Patmos is one of Europe's Most Idyllic Places to Live

If you want to be in your own unspoiled world, move to one of these picturesque spots.
The above phrase is describe the island of Patmos, at an text at the www.forbes.com .

Last year, the rising dollar meant European property was becoming more affordable. But even now that the globe is fully in recession, Europe's most idyllic locations have yet to lose any of their charm.

Fortunately, that hasn't led to high prices absolutely everywhere. While many tranquil spots in Europe remain pricey (think Tuscany), others like the Greek island of Patmos have remained somewhat easier on the wallet.

What Patmos--a tiny island in the Aegean Sea--doesn't have in terms of expense it makes up for in religious history. Also known as the Holy Greek Island of Patmos (it's where St. John is thought to have written the Book of Revelation), the island is home to more than 50 churches. But it has its origins in Greek mythology: The legend goes that Zeus allowed Patmos to rise up from the ocean, and humans are thought to have settled there as far back as 2000 B.C.

In Depth: Europe's Most Idyllic Places To Live

Patmos also offers peace and quiet, with a population of just under 3,000 and space of 13 square miles--and it isn't teeming with tourists. The only means of transport to and from there is a ferry boat from the neighboring islands of Samos or Kos, yet visitors who know of the place return time and time again.
"Patmos' saving grace is that it has no airport," says Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places To See Before You Die. "It is quiet, traditional and removed but not primitive. That and a beautiful interior and great beaches draws a very sophisticated crowd."
Yet living here won't dent the wallet too much. A three-bedroom house located about a five-minute walk from the beach will set you back 300,000 euros ($428,700). A one-bedroom house, also near the beach--it's hard not to be on such a small island--costs around 160,000 euros ($228,650).
"Prices in Patmos haven't really moved too much in the last year," says Elena Panagopoulou, of GoldAcre Estates in Patras, Greece. She adds that while property prices have slid in Athens, they've been resilient on the country's 227 inhabited islands.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/09/03/europe-most-idyllic-places-lifestyle-real-estate.html