By Zeta Tzioti
Our recent visit to the romantic island of Aegina, and specifically to the Aphaia Villa of Sébastien Delen, combined aesthetics with art.
The Aphaia Villa, known for its unique architecture and exceptional location, is a destination that attracts visitors who appreciate contemporary art and the natural beauty of the island.
The space is not just a place to stay but also a small cultural hub where contemporary art harmoniously blends with genuine Greek hospitality. The villa, with its minimalist aesthetic, perfectly complements the tranquility of Aegina’s landscape, offering an experience that goes beyond traditional accommodation.
The villa’s exceptional view and its strategic location between Aegina and Perdika make it a great base for exploring all parts of the island.
Sébastien, the owner of the villa and a lover of art (www.villaaphea.gr), hails from France, specifically from Brittany, a northern region of France by the Atlantic Ocean.
In our interview, he expresses his desire for Aphaia Villa to become a space for art and well-being on the beautiful Greek island of Aegina. This space also houses the Aphaia Gallery, featuring stunning works of art.
–Sébastien, how did you come up with a decision to move from France to Greece?
-After a 25-year career in Easter Europe, travelling all over the globe, we thought it was a proper time to search for a nice house where we could rest and enjoy weekends, vacations with all the family, and eventually to retire at some point.
We visited several countries and islands all around the Mediterranean Sea, and when we discovered Aegina, we immediately fell in love. Aegina has all what we were looking for! A beautiful island with amazing crystal waters, and yet still not too touristic. Ancestral trekking paths and roads for outdoor sport activities, and proximity to Athens and the airport, makes it an easy access point from anywhere in Europe.
-You have a luxurious Villa in Aegina with a special space dedicated for art, the “APHAIA GALLERY”. What is the concept? How did you decide to create it?
-When we found the villa, we quickly realized that we would need support to design and personalize it.
We were lucky to find amazing artists who joined us on Aegina and were inspired to create art pieces that gave a special touch and atmosphere to Villa Aphea.
Considering the amount of work input, we thought it would be nice to organize a small “opening”, a vernissage, so that the four artists could expose their work. That event became unexpectedly a viral event with much interest, many guests and very positive feedback about the art works and the villa itself.
Ten years passed since we bought Villa Aphea. Ten years of meeting amazing artists who were inspired by the villa and its setting. Ten years of interaction with art. It was time again to organize a new exposition for a 10-year anniversary of the villa and to open a gallery so all creations can be exposed properly.
-What does art mean to you?
-After 20 years plus of working in the video game industry, I had a chance to interact with very creative talents, including 2D and 3D artists.
Art became naturally a subject of interest. With Villa Aphea construction, having this close interaction with the artistic creative process, art and interior design became a passion. Love for art became a reality, with a specific focus on contemporary art.
In the last 10 years, I have created a collection of art works and opened a gallery that will give an opportunity to expose new artists who will consider joining future art residencies and art retreats, with a purpose to promote artistic creative process and the arts in general.
-Which artists are hosted in your GALLERY?
–Many artists from Greece, France, Romania such as
- Alex Maganiotis – Dottism from the dotted line, acrylic on paper or transparent film on canvas- Athens, Greece
- Bertille Gentil – Watercolour on paper and acrylic on canvas – Aegina, Greece
- Benoit Pare – Acrylic on canvas, pop art style – Aegina/Athens, Greece
- Christian Moldovan – Plastic collage pop art sculptures – Bucharest, Romania
- Helen Kyrkilis – Oil and collage on canvas – Athens, Greece
- Julia Deme – Acrylic on canvas – Bucharest, Romania
- Liviu Mihai – Oil on canvas – Bucharest, Romania
- Maria Cismaru – Oil on canvas – Bucharest, Romania
- Maria Kottaki – Ceramics – Aegina, Greece
- Misha Diaconu – Metal sculptures – Bucharest, Romania
So far, we have been working with French, Romanian, and Greek artists. That was a natural process because we come from France, I have worked in Romania, and now, living in Greece, since a few years, I am discovering and interacting with Greek creators, who are great and it’s an honor to be able to receive them and their art at the villa.
-Is the gallery open to visitors?
-Aphea Gallery is open for specific events and by appointment for private viewings.
Please feel free to contact us.
-Could you tell us a bit more about the villa?
Villa Aphea is built on a huge green park of 8000 m2 facing an impressive 180° sea view with amazing colorful Sunsets that inspire a creative frame of mind in everyone visiting! The infinity pool reinforces that feeling.
With over 700M2 and 8 bedrooms, villa can accommodate large families or groups for relaxing and/or active vacations. Villa is also perfectly set for wellness retreats thanks to villas’ extensive sport facilities.
-What do you recommend the visitors to do during their stay on the island?
-On the island, we discovered stunning and extensive historic hiking trails (restored and maintained by the association of Aegina Hiking (https://aegina-hiking.com). I personally recommend the one passing by the Ancestral olive trees and is accessible only in a few minutes’ walk from the villa.
As a cyclist, runner and triathlete, Aegina has everything needed for exterior activities. I fell in love with the 40 kms bicycle island tour with amazing sea views and three nice climbs. This can be done with gravel and e-bikes available at villa.
You can also enjoy private treatments such as massages and healing sessions with professional experts available on request on Aegina Island. Villa is also full of equipment for relaxing entertainment moments with billiard, indoor and exterior chess, pétanque and even an exterior cinema set.
Finally, the incredible crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea welcomes you, most of the year, for a pleasant swim.
-What are your plans for the villa and gallery for next year?
-For the year 2025, and the years to come, we will continue to welcome guests that wish to discover Greece, Aegina Island, and for a Villa Aphea specific experience. We will also continue to develop innovative concepts of corporate team building and wellness retreats, and, as I mention earlier, thanks to the opening of the art gallery, we will develop new concepts for art residencies and art retreats.
With Art Retreats, we will be able to welcome guests and artists that want to learn about contemporary art, about specific painting or sculpture technics, thanks to our talented experimental artists collaborating with “Art by Aphea” projects.
With art Residency, we will receive experienced artists that want to work, share, learn and create art and finally expose them at Aphea Gallery.
Hope to see you soon at Villa Aphea and Aphea Gallery to enjoy a time of Art and Wellness.
Please feel free to contact us via email: VillaAphea@gmail.com
instagram: Villa_Aphea
