Mango House Seychelles, Mahé, Seychelles, Indian Ocean

The Seychelles is a place often described as one of the most photogenic places on Earth. Nowhere does it take on a more literal meaning than at Mango House, the former home of renowned fashion photographer Gian Paolo Barbieri. He fell in love with the Seychelles while he was in Mahé for a Vogue Paris photoshoot in 1975 and ended up buying a plot on the shores of Anse Aux Poules Bleues to build his dream home. The location he picked was blessed with copious amounts of fruit trees, so Gian Paolo dubbed it his 'Mango House'.

Fast forward several decades and Mango House is now a luxury beachside bolthole with a go-slow vibe. The resort still revolves around the building Barbieri built and with its record player, bookcases and nostalgic photos, the main nucleus feels like you're in his living room. But it's the location that made Barbieri call this place home and it retains its 'wow' factor today. Backed by lush forest, Mango House spectacularly clings to Mahé's rocky western coast and boasts a cream-hued crescent of sand pinned down either side by giant granite boulders. It overlooks Anse Aux Poules Bleues and while that literally translates as the 'Bay of Blue Chickens' its more affectionate nickname 'Aquarium of Wonders' is far more apt, given the rich marine life that lies within.

Mango House has never lost sight of its homely roots, gently encouraging you to get to know the 'neighbourhood' with visits to local artisans and the island's natural wonders. Remarkably, it still harbours a wonderful level of homely intimacy that could easily have dissolved once it became a luxury resort. Most importantly, we think if Mango House welcomed Gian Paolo Barbieri back today, he'd feel like he'd never left.