Amanzoe Turned a Peloponnese Hilltop Into a Marble-Clad Modern Acropolis

Amanzoe sits on a hilltop above Porto Heli, on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, close enough to Athens for a helicopter transfer but far enough to feel entirely removed from it. When it opened in 2012, it was among the first resorts to bring the Aman group's spare, pared-back style to Greece, and it did so by leaning hard into classical reference rather than away from it: Doric columns, marble floors and a hilltop siting that its own marketing has long compared to a modern-day acropolis.

A resort built at different altitudes on purpose

Amanzoe's 38 pavilions, three beach pavilions and 12 villas are spread across the hillside at varying elevations, a layout designed less for view-maximising than for privacy: no pavilion looks directly into another, and each opens onto its own terrace with a private pool. It's a quieter architectural decision than it sounds, since it means the resort's density is far higher than its sense of seclusion would suggest.

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Beyond the pool terraces

The resort's spa, at close to 3,000 square metres, is one of the larger dedicated wellness buildings the Aman group operates anywhere, and it sits apart from the accommodation blocks in its own pavilion. A separate beach club at the water's edge gives guests who'd rather skip the private pools a more conventional sea-level base, with its own restaurant and a jetty used for boat excursions along the coast.

Why the Peloponnese, not the islands

Porto Heli's appeal has always rested partly on proximity: it's a manageable drive or short flight-and-transfer from Athens, without the ferry logistics that come with most of the Greek islands with a comparable level of luxury hospitality. That accessibility, combined with Amanzoe's scale, has made it a fixture on itineraries that pair a few days here with time in Athens rather than requiring a dedicated island-hopping trip.

Traveller tips

• Amanzoe is roughly a two-hour drive from Athens, with a helicopter transfer also available from Athens International Airport.
• The resort operates its own beach club separately from the hilltop pavilions, with a shuttle running between the two.
• Porto Heli's small marina and the nearby island of Spetses make for an easy half-day excursion by boat.
• Late spring and early autumn offer the Peloponnese's most comfortable temperatures, avoiding the peak-summer heat.