Santorini, Greece

Tranquility and quietude might not be the first words that spring to mind when thinking of the Greek island of Santorini, or Thíra. But travel to Santorini in wintertime, and a different side of the island reveals itself.

Santorini, the balcony of the Aegean, is a small archipelago belonging to the Cyclades. Its origin story reads as an eternal interplay between man and the realm of nature; a volcanic eruption is what shaped the geology of the islands. The sea rushed in to fill the caldera, leaving only the present-day archipelago to rise above the shimmering surface of the Aegean.

Even in winter, Santorini is the epitome of joyful romance. Wherever the eye wanders, there are glimpses of the shifting blues of the Aegean Sea and its deserted shores. Brilliant white villages cascade cheerfully over steep hilltops, while narrow pathways wind past blue-domed chapels and through a maze of yposkafa cave houses. A playful air of grace breathes through the Greek villages, particularly in its highest hilltop settlement: Pyrgos. One foot inside the medieval town and the tempo swiftly slows down. In the peace of late afternoon, there is no other purpose than to rest in the dappled shade of pine trees and discover the secrets of Greek gastronomy at the local taverna.

A stone’s throw from the centre of Pyrgos hides another fortress, modern and monolithic. Covered with earth-toned plaster and in harmony with Santorini’s architectural history, the summer residence Albus was dreamed up by Kapsimalis Architects. In summer, the villa offers a welcome pause from the spirited dynamism of the surrounding villages.