Stay at a cavehouse in Santorini

“Having stayed in a cave house in the quieter village of Imerovigli just a year before, I was intrigued to see how staying in the heart of it all would measure up. Just steps away from the cinematic chaos of Oia Castle, but blissfully out of view, I found my retreat. The villa was an architectural love affair. There was a minimalist kitchenette, perfect for assembling a mezze-and-wine spread for the terrace, and a soft and unexpectedly large bohemian lounge space that made it dangerously easy to lose hours to absolutely nothing. But the real scene-stealer? The infinity jacuzzi. A plunge into panoramic theatre. From there, I sat in the bubbles, tracing the cliff-line past Imerovigli, past Fira, all the way to Akrotiri at the southern tip, until the light faded at dusk across the caldera like a slow-burn symphony.”

“They had prepared Villa Artemis for us, situated on the lowermost level of Pyrgos Kastelli Villas, where I immediately felt intimate, as if it were my summer house where I return every year to relax and recharge my batteries. On the table, we found welcome sweets and a liqueur, small details that make the difference in hospitality and accommodation, and they predispose you positively for this experience. Because staying in a cave house – in fact a real cave turned into a home – is a unique experience of its own. Inside Villa Artemis I felt that time has stopped for a while, just as much to enjoy the moments in the embrace of the earth. Especially in the bedroom, the feeling was totally peaceful, so I could have been together with Morpheus for hours without having anything to bother me.”

“One of our favorite places to hang out in the house was the CAVE SOFA! This rental had a bedroom, living room, tiny cave kitchen, bathroom, and an outdoor private jacuzzi. From the from balcony area, you can see two out of the three blue domes in Oia and a sweeping view of the sea. Every morning, we could get up, pop out the door, and watch the most gorgeous cotton candy sunrise. We were also able to watch the sunset from the privacy of our rental house, a far cry more comfortable than battling it out Hunger Games-style at the castle ruins.”