The perfect summer getaway in Oia.
Who would have thought that before this idyllic hotel, in the village of Oia, there were some ruined caves used as grain storage and cellars . The Greek studio Kapsimalis Architects has completely transformed this place to open Saint Hotel , a small beachfront resort on the island of Santorini that has 16 rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and spa-gym . And all of them built gradually and staggered on six levels, adapting to this peculiar geography of the island.
“The interior design of the hotel follows an austere and minimalist approach based on the Cycladic architecture standards . The new spaces of the cave hotels are characterized by a la vie en bleu, an aesthetic of bright colors, with abstract references to the cosmopolitan tourist centers of the southern Mediterranean”, they tell Traveler.es from the architecture studio.
The Saint Hotel from above.
The hotel entrance, which can be accessed through the village, is located on the upper level, where the reception and an outdoor living room have also been built. The central exterior staircase leads from the upper level to** the restaurant and an infinity pool with views of the volcanic bay**.
This floor connects with the rooms and suites, their patios and private pools . On the lower level are the spa, a small gym, massage room, hammam, saunas and a private patio to relax in front of the cliffs. Almost nothing, right?
“The main objective of the proposal is, on the one hand, the total restoration of the old existing buildings and, on the other hand, the construction of the new cave rooms and the common spaces as a contemporary and different remodeling of the cubist morphology of the old settlement, but at the same time as a discreet continuation of the landscape terrain of the caldera ”, they underline.
Summer in Santorini?
Oia is a traditional fishing village with minimalist white buildings , that is why they wanted to respect its essence when restoring it. The hotel is located precisely in one of its quietest neighborhoods, called perivolas , whose name means “small gardens” in Greek because in the past there were small crops in the area.
from this location guests can move to the alleys of Oia , visit the old churches and eat in the typical local restaurants or take a sailboat from the port of Ammoudi to the volcano.
“Sanitary measures in Santorini are very high and they are well controlled in all tourist businesses. The Saint Hotel suites, due to their private interior and exterior areas, act as small villas that provide sufficient distance between one another”, they point out from the hotel to Traveler.es when we ask them about the sanitary measures taken on the island. “Special hygienic protocols are followed regarding the cleaning of rooms, the restaurant-bar and transfer services, etc.”, they add.
Greece opened its borders last June, but that was only to travelers from countries with a low rate of coronavirus infection.
The views of Saint Hotel in Oia.