Goodisson, William: A historical and topographical essay upon the islands of Corfu, Leucadia, Cephalonia, Ithaka and Zante: with remarks upon the character manners and customs of the Ionian Greeks : descriptions of the scenery and remains of antiquity discovered therein, and reflections upon the Cyclopian ruins, illustrated by maps and sketches (London: Thomas and George Underwood, 1822)

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the valley near Saint Pietro, the traveller will
arrive at the house of Mr. Zalamba, at Spartea,
beautifully situated at the eastern side of the vale
ofVasilichi. This is probably the best dwelling
house in the island; the family, which are one of the
most respectable, own a considerable portion of the
plain, and have here % very large establishment,
consisting of a comfortable and well furnished house,
with extensive magazines for corn, wine, and oil.
Notwithstanding the beauty of the situation, there
is a total want of taste in the laying out of this
sweet spot, which derives so many charms from
nature. A double row of tall dark cypresses forms
an avenue, leading up to the house, which has a
pretty effect enough, but is excessively formal and
gloomy. The house is built with scarcely any
regularity or design, being massed together with a
heap of magazines, which occupy the lower part,
just as the farming conveniences seemed to require.
One of the rooms is fitted up as a study, in which
are many Greek and Italian books ; among the
rest, Romaic translations of Goldsmith’s Greece, and
Telemachus. Besides St. Pietro, are here the
villages, of Sievro containing nearly three hundred
people, and St. Elba with upwards of three
hundred inhabitants, at a great elevation. At twenty
minutes’ ride from the house at Spartea the village
of Condarena is passed upon the right, and another
beautiful valley opens to the left, over which, upon
the side of a hill, hangs the village of Marandocori,
which contains two hundred and seventy people.