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The owner of Aenaon Villas – a former engineer – has thrown his heart and know-how into the property, cleverly maximising every inch of available space. Villa Elidami is at the property’s summit, its terrace overlooking the main lounge. -
The seven villas, protected by terraced stone retaining walls that curl around the property, all have a unique layout, and are all minimalist in style and predominantly white, in keeping with traditional Cycladic architecture. Each villa has also been given an equally traditional Santorinian woman’s name -
Accommodating up to four guests, Villa Marily is the largest, its roomy living/dining space and veranda offering stunning western views of the Aegean Sea. -
Aenaon Villas are situated at the highest and narrowest point on Santorini, on the edge of the world-famous caldera – and they are open to all four compass points of the horizon. -
Dressed in Cyclades white, each villa features smooth yet layered interiors, with a pared-back contemporary aesthetic that references traditional elements of sun- bleached wood and quarried stone. -
Villa Elidami’s living room, with a fireplace and west-facing views of the Aegean. -
Villa Zaneti has a private veranda that faces east over the sea, towards the sunrise. -
Sunset from Villa Elidami, which also features its own plunge pool. -
Sunset from Villa Elidami, which also features its own plunge pool.
High on the cliffs of Santorini among Greece’s Cyclades Islands, a cluster of seven villas offers sweeping views over the caldera, the volcano, the Aegean and the dramatic sunsets that have shaped the islands’ mythos.
WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS The Aficionados
There is no better study in restrained drama than the traditional architecture on the Greek island of Santorini. Half of it comes courtesy of the geography – living on the lip of what’s still an active volcano tends to add some spice; the other half is the whitewashed cubic volumes, soft barrel vaults and terraced retaining walls that seem sculpted from the volcanic escarpment itself. Perch that on the edge of a blackened cliff with the deep-blue Aegean stretched out before you, and it’s all pretty dramatic.
Yet there’s an oasis of serenity among this that goes by the name of Aenaon Villas.
Built between the villages of Imerovigli and Oia on the caldera’s northern horn, the villas are situated on an ancient connecting path overlooking the beaches that span the east coast of the island. Conceived by engineer-owner Giorgos Alexiou and his wife Alexandra, together with architect Giorgos Zacharopoulos, the buildings are carved into the island’s rugged contours. Walls of volcanic stone, olive trees, and traditional Cycladic lines frame terraces, while interiors embrace the minimalist grace of Santorini’s white-on-white vernacular.
Behind this purity of form lies a narrative of identity and locality. The buildings seem to emerge organically from the rocky slope, sculpted by the cliff rather than imposed upon it. Windows and terraces are carefully arranged so that each view is framed: sea, volcano, sky. Pergolas made of timber and reed provide shade, while the volcanic stone offers texture and earthy contrast. Each villa has its own veranda; many feature infinity pools at the edge of the caldera so that water becomes a visual extension of the sea itself.
Interiors are generous in scale, yet proportioned so that no space feels cold or cavernous, with small stairwells, terraced floor plates and gentle curves softening the geometry. The decor embraces a pared-back aesthetic with sweeping windows that invite the Aegean light inside. The interiors preserve the sense of serenity and simplicity with walls, floors and much of the built architecture in layers of brilliant white, letting natural light bounce deep into living spaces. The furniture reflects this, restrained and designed for ease with deeply cushioned sofas, wooden pieces, often local craftsmanship and modern fixtures. The palette is almost ascetic; where colour enters, it’s in natural tones – warm wood, muted stone, soft fabrics.
This thread of serenity as the true luxury is also evident in the villa’s service. Instead of a restaurant, the owners designed a thoughtful room-pool-service concept: simple tastes of the island, served wherever the mood takes you. From breakfast on a private terrace overlooking the caldera to Greek salads by the pool and pre-sunset bites, dining here flows in step with the natural rhythm of the island. Some villas include kitchenettes for self-catering; there’s also a list of Giorgos and Alexandra’s favourite nearby tavernas and restaurants, ensuring guests will be welcomed like locals.
As a member of The Aficionados – a travel resource of more than 90 hotels, guesthouses and designer homes for those seeking lodgings that meld luxury, design and authenticity – it’s the villas’ name that captures the spirit of this retreat. “Aenaon” means “flowing continuously, unstoppably, eternally”. It’s a circular rhythm of timeless architecture, elemental design and quiet luxury. It’s design that respects silence, scale and tradition, but doesn’t shy away from modern comfort. For lovers of understated elegance and natural drama, Aenaon is both a sanctuary and a stage. theaficionados.com | @theaficionados
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