Villa Kérylos - the Working Man

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Like all famous houses open to the public, Villa Kérylos needs an immense amount of tender loving care. This post is dedicated to Chuckeroon of Richmond-upon-Thames Daily Photo who recently posted on 'The Working Man' at Ham House. Please click on the link.

Of course, to match Chuckeroon's passion, the photo should be Black and White but with the Mediterranean outside the window, I couldn't do it.

Tomorrow - our last day at the Villa and then...lunch at the port of Saint Jean on Cap Ferrat. Everyone welcome!

Villa Kérylos -the Garden

From this part of the garden we look across to the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, dotted with magnificent mansions.

The garden contains a mixture of typically Greek plants: olive trees and vines, pomegranate and carob trees, acanthus and myrtle, oleanders and irises, pine and cypress trees, palm trees and papyrus all help create a Grecian look and feel in the Mediterranean sunshine.

Villa Kérylos - the Gallery of Antiques

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Located at sea level, the “Galerie des Antiques” is a collection of life-size casts of the finest classical Grecian statues, such as the famous Belvedere Apollo, the Venus de Milo and the Discobolus, the originals of which are in Rome, Florence, Naples and the Louvre museum.

Visitors can see statues of the ancient gods and goddesses who played such an important part in Greek civilisation: Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Apollo and Ares.

Villa Kérylos - the Triklinos

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

In every room there are frescoes and mosaics inspired by ancient documents, depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Visitors can see the death of Talos after winning the Golden Fleece, the return of Hephaestus to Olympia and the main events in the legend of Pelops and the life of Apollo.

The frescoes in these photos are presented as a frieze in the Triklinos, which is the banqueting hall of the villa.

Villa Kérylos - the Balaneion

The 'balaneion', is a private bathroom found in luxury houses in ancient Greece. This is made of Carrera tiger marble.

It was customary for ancient Greeks to relax in such rooms before their evening meal.

Theme Day: 'Doorways' - the Prince's Palace

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

It's Theme Day again and the subject is 'doorways' and in Monaco, why not the doorway to the Prince's Palace on le rocher? And a second doorway - this time the doorway to one of the sentry boxes.

To see how at least 100 City Daily Photo bloggers from around the world have interpreted today's Theme, do click on the link to be delighted and intrigued. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Villa Kérylos - a Room with a View

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Inside the Greek villa, there is beauty everywhere. Look outside and it's not bad either.

Villa Kérylos - the Bird Room

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

“Ornitès” or the “Bird Room” was the name given to Madame Reinach’s bedroom, where blue is the dominant colour. Theodore Reinach had his wife’s room decorated with the symbols of the goddess Hera, the peacock and the swan.

Villa Kérylos - the Foot

Marble baths with marble feet, stunning taps, beautiful mosaics on the floor - those classical Greeks knew a thing or two.

Villa Kérylos - the Triptolème

This is a detail of the Triptolème, a small rest room between two bathrooms in the Villa Kérylos.

Far from being a mere copy of the noble houses on the Greek island of Delos, Villa Kérylos is rather a reinvention of
ancient Greece. The architect, Emmanuel Pontremoli, did not want to make a pastiche but chose to create an original work with “Greece in mind”. He demonstrated his genius by subtly incorporating the modern conveniences of the
Belle Époque villas into the luxurious setting of an ancient Greek villa.

Villa Kérylos - the Central Courtyard

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

Villa Kérylos was built in the early 1900s, in the period the French call the “Belle Epoque”, and is a unique and luxurious re-creation of an ancient Grecian dwelling of the second century B.C., complete with wall decorations and furniture.

Built by two great enthusiasts of Ancient Greece: Theodore Reinach, an archaeologist and patron of the arts, and Emmanuel Pontremoli, an inspired architect.

In keeping with many Mediterranean houses, the Villa Kérylos is built around a “peristyle”, a vast central courtyard surrounded by twelve monolithic columns in white Carrera marble. It was here that Theodore Reinach loved to take a walk.

Villa Kérylos - Statuary

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

We're in the gardens of the Villa Kérylos. On one side, steps lead up to the villa and this beautiful sculpture welcomes us. The view beyond looks towards Eze, Cap d'Ail and Monaco.

Villa Kérylos has to be one of the most extraordinary sites on the French Riviera and tomorrow we'll learn more of its history.

Villa Kérylos

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved

Just along the coast from Monaco at Beaulieu-sur-Mer is the fascinating Villa Kérylos. It's a perfect reconstruction of a luxurious Greek palace dating from 2 B.C. and modelled on those found on the island of Delos. It's the only villa of its kind in the world.

A great day out is to visit Villa Kérylos in the morning and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its glorious gardens at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat in the afternoon. The second photo here was taken just outside the Villa Ephrussi, looking down on Villa Kérylos.

Do come back - tomorrow we'll start to look around.

Baby Doll

What the well-dressed toddler will be wearing this winter. A children's clothing shop in Avenue Saint Laurent, almost opposite the Eglise Saint Charles.

Mirrored Marble

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserve

We're inside the Hôtel de Paris - in a reception area just outside Alain Ducasse's famous 3-Michelin starred Louis XV restaurant. The walls are antique mirrors giving endless reflections of the opulent marble walls and beautiful lamps that are part of the foyer of this fabulous hotel.

A generous friend invited me here for lunch. It lasted from 12.30 to 16.30 and was absolutely the best lunch I ever had in my life.

The Rose Petals

A wedding in Monaco.

"A happy bridesmaid makes a happy bride"

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson

The Scream

Fancy an hommage to Munch's The Scream on your coffee table? Well here it is in Venetian glass. It will cost you 7,250 euros.

You'll find it in the luxurious Metropole shopping centre. This shop on the top level sells nothing but glass - chandeliers, ornaments, vases, jewellry.

The Glass Skull

Same shop as yesterday - an upmarket fashion store. And more skulls - this time all around a chandelier.

Not a Halloween symbol as I took these photos in the Metropole Centre in August.

The Silver Skull

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

A shop in the luxurious Metropole Centre.

'It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.'

~ Mahatma Gandhi

The Two Most Perfect Things - 'Mrs. Worthington'

Copyright 2009 Monte Carlo Daily Photo. All rights reserved.

One last look at this oh-so-enjoyable show full of so many wonderful Ivor Novello and Noël Coward songs.

If you'd like to hear Noël Coward himself sing 'Don't put your daughter on the stage, Mrs. Worthington' please click on the link.

The smaller photo shows part of a most appreciative audience. Note the beautiful Art Nouveau doors to the Salle Belle Epoque at the Hotel Hermitage.