When Ella Pienaar came to the then remote pristine island of Skiathos in June 1965, she never imagined that she would remain there for the rest of her life. She crisscrossed the island by foot and by donkey, fell in love with the island, its people and their language. She had found her “terrestrial paradise”.

Within weeks, she bought a piece of land in the middle of an olive grove on the edge of the village of Skiathos, bought a white mule called Yiatros to carry the building materials from the port to the land and built her house which became known to the islanders
as Ella’s villa (“Villa to Ellas”).

Although Ella’s house was meant for family and friends, it soon became a haven for many over the years, just as it was for Ella where she created her beautiful garden and welcomed many thousands of guests over the years.

Today, Ella’s family still continue welcoming guests to Villa Ella, offering guests the same warm hospitality. Just as Ella wanted it to be.