Palmyra

Perched on a clifftop with incredible ocean views, Palmyra’s origin is a story of true romance. Originally built as a gift from a husband to his wife, this villa is uniquely designed around the concept of a ship, with teak flooring throughout. Upon arrival an enchanting frangipani lined stone path leads through tropical flora and fauna to the villa’s grand double fronted doors. On entering the villa, the main living room is distinguished by four large arches with high ceilings, creating a unique space filled with antique furniture, comfortable sofas and a large iron chandelier. This extends out onto the large veranda equipped with a dining table and a lovely day bed gazing out to uninterrupted ocean views. The terraced gardens around the house are also stunning, and the four  bedrooms share the top terrace with the sitting room and large veranda; each of the light and breezy bedrooms is like a ship’s cabin.

Outside, at the edge of the lower terrace sits an impressive infinity pool against an ocean backdrop. Elsewhere within the gardens there is a sunset pavilion, a meditation pavilion and a yoga pavilion, as well as several hammocks for further relaxation. Beside the pool a set of 134 steps lead down to another garden, from which a private wooden gate leads straight to the beach. This particular beach is largely deserted, and has a lovely little rock pool area for seasonally safe paddling. Palmyra is in a superb location, only 40 minutes from historic Galle, 15 minutes from Mirissa to enjoy whale watching and just 10 minutes from Weligama – a great spot for beginners surfing.