Andros, Cyclades. 405 kilometers of crystalline shores, rivulets, vineyards, olive and citrus groves, monasteries, and sparse villages. Leading us here is a story that begins in the Adriatic, in Pescara, where Allegra was born and raised, surrounded by the flavors of ancient Abruzzo recipes and the scents of local herbs with which her grandfather Amedeo, at the beginning of the last century, created Aurum, a liqueur that became famous. Thanks to her father, Allegra crossed the threshold of great chefs’ kitchens and attended cooking classes with him. This was followed by studies in photography at Central Saint Martins, advertising graphics in Brussels, and a career as a gastronome-photographer. She happened upon Andros almost by chance, fell in love with it, and made it her life’s project, building a haven on the southern side of the island. Mèlisses takes its name from the industrious bees buzzing in the bushes along the archipelago’s shores.

From our room to the sea, a path separates us. A short journey in which we pass the garden, skirt the fence where a family of baby goats prance and stop to stare at us. Then, we descend into paradise, where we pause—not to catch our breath, but to take in every corner of the beauty around us. Each day, after enjoying the delicious breakfast prepared by Allegra, we take a towel, a piece of fruit, a book, and sit on a rock, soaking up warmth and blue for the winter.

Word and pictures Meraviglia Paper.