A Swiss man has created his very own miniature Greek “island” in his backyard, inspired by his love of the Greek islands and the millions of foreign visitors who return to them year after year.

With their distinctive architecture, crystal-clear waters, beaches and traditional tavernas, Greece’s islands remain a favourite destination for tourists from around the world. But a holiday on a Greek island can be far from cheap — something that 48-year-old Swiss national Michael Scherrer knows all too well.

Living near Lake Constance, Scherrer apparently decided that while Greek islands are wonderful, having one of his own to visit whenever he wants — without spending a fortune on travel — would be even better.

So he built a miniature traditional Greek island village in his backyard, complete with narrow streets, paved walkways, whitewashed buildings, blue shutters and even a bar. Measuring 15 by 15 metres, his miniature “island” has almost everything one might expect from a Greek holiday destination — except, of course, the sea and the views. And perhaps a little more sunshine, given that the village is located in Switzerland.

But that does not seem to bother him. “Now that it’s summer, my friends come over, we sit at the bar and feel as if we are on a Greek island,” Scherrer  said. He added that some of his friends even take photos and jokingly tell others that they have been on holiday in Greece.

He is now considering converting part of the miniature village into a proper living space, essentially a guesthouse where he can accommodate visiting friends.
“Every time I go there, I feel like I’m on holiday,” Scherrer said.

Building his miniature Greek island took around a year and cost $13,000. “The whole process took longer than I expected, as we needed numerous permits from the authorities, while work was often interrupted because of the weather,” he admitted.

The Greek-inspired village is only one part of a larger themed park Schärer is developing on his property. Once completed, the park will cover around 1,500 square metres.

All photographs were provided by Michael Scherrer to SWNS.