One of the main reasons why Santorini stands out among other islands is its remarkable traditional architecture. All the Cycladic islands share the typical whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, and cobblestoned alleys, however, Santorini’s volcanic landscape, played a catalytic part to the architectural style of the island.
Santorini’s buildings are in perfect balance with the surroundings, and that was the main goal in the first place. The inhabitants had to create practical and adaptable edifices, that would “play along” with weather conditions, using solely what the land had to offer. Therefore, the materials they used were primarily volcanic: volcanic dust, black igneous rock, red rock, and pumice stone. Two basic architectural characteristics of Santorini are the domes, and the cave houses called “yposkafa”, whose construction is easy, practical and inexpensive, making for authentic, vernacular, and highly sustainable architecture. Tholos Resort suites and villa boast such architecture, taking it to a whole new level, by adding all those necessary contemporaneous touches for a truly unique stay in a serene Cycladic hideaway, thus striking the perfect balance between tradition and modernity.
As Coco Chanel said, “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance”, and we couldn't agree more; There is something genuinely elegant, and, at the same time, soothing about the uncomplicated aesthetics of Cycladic architecture, creating a familiarity that is liberating and peaceful.
