Luxury Accommodation Complex on Skorpios, Greece, Expected in Three Years

Skorpios, private island. Photo © airphoto.gr / Shutterstock

The redevelopment of the islet of Skorpios in Greece will be completed in about three years time and the result will be the creation of the first luxury accommodation complex in Greece, according to the owner, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.

Located off the Ionian island of Lefkada, Skorpios was the former private island of Athina Onassis, granddaughter of Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

“The basic idea is to create a ‘green’ island with the greatest possible use of its existing landscape, structure and incomparable beauty,” the island’s owner said in a recent interview to Cypriot magazine Wealth Management.

Photo source: wikipedia / Shadster

The investment project includes a luxury resort complex with spa, restaurants, and marina; showrooms; amphitheater; helipad; farm; and recreation areas.

“Our family’s goal is to create the first luxury accommodation complex in Greece, located on a private island, to be one of the few in the world, in fact, unique in the Mediterranean. At the same time, all works are being done very carefully and in complete harmony with the environment.”

Referring to Skorpios as an “earthly paradise”, Rybolovlev explains to Wealth Management how much he is “fascinated” by the island.

Moreover, in the interview, the billionaire mentions that he “feels at home” in the area thanks to the hospitality of the Greeks.

“The whole area of ​​Lefkada is such a beautiful place where I am lucky enough to receive warm Greek hospitality. Every time I visit the area, the locals greet me as friends. And in fact, I feel at home there.”

The island was purchased by Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis in 1963. Skorpios is the island where he wed former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968. Onassis, his son Alexander and daughter Christina are buried on the northern part of Skorpios. Athina Onassis, the only surviving heir of the Onassis family, sold the island in 2013 to Ekaterina Rybolovleva, the daughter of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.