Santorini, Greece

Tranquility and quietude might not spring to mind while thinking of the Greek island Santorini, or Thíra. But travel to Santorini in wintertime, and a different side of the island reveals itself. Last winter we had the opportunity to explore its charm, when Vlychadas’ black-sand beaches and vertiginous cliffs served as a natural backdrop for our campaign for Martina Maletti.

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

Even in winter, Santorini is the epitome of joyful romance. Everywhere your gaze falls upon you will catch a glimpse of the shifting blues of the Aegean sea and its deserted shores. Brilliant white villages cascade cheerful over steep hilltops, while narrow pathways wind past blue-domed chapels and a maze of yposkafa cave houses. A playful air of grace breathes through the Greek villages, with in particular its highest hilltop settlement: Pyrgos. One foot in the medieval town and the tempo swiftly slows down. In the peace of late afternoon, one has no other purpose then to rest in the dappled shade of pine trees and discover the secret of Greek gastronomy at the local taverna.

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