The Vasilicos - Caldera Heritage Suites

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The Vasilicos - Caldera Heritage Suites

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Formerly the sanctuary of a passionate art collector, the Vasilicos is an elegant constellation of s The view, the energy, are riveting.

A passionate collector of greek art, a bon viveur, visits Santorini in the early '80s. A great friend finds two neighbouring plots of land, perfect but in absolute ruin. Passion, commitment and an inspired architect turn them into a private hideaway, a personal paradise, that lasts for years and years. Lazy lunches under the pergola, sunsets at the belvedere, solitary reading in the living room, basil plants, pool parties, roaming black cats, friends coming, going and staying, plants being watered to the sound of opera at twilight, misty winter nights by the fireplace, loud conversations, music, and endless games of tavli, have all left their mark and given this place an energy of its own, captivating and inspiring.

02/11/2026

Today, we exhale. The sense of relief and accomplishment is palpable.For (more than) 210 days the V Team has kept the ball in the air, making your holidays memorable, and The Vasilicos a place like no other.
Thank you, Mano, for manning (no pun intended) the front desk impeccably; mama Cyril, for making breakfast the highlight of everyone's day, and candlelight dinners the highlight of their holiday. Christo, the energy with which you still run up and down the stairs after all these years, tirelessly bringing and fetching, never ceases to amaze. Ellie, RJ, you are the cornerstone of The Vasilicos, everything starts with the love with which you care for the space. And Yanni, after twelve years - our mainstay. Thank you, all, for making our house a home worthy of being mentioned in The Times.
Cheers, guys, we did it! Here's to the end of another (endless) Greek summer!

29/10/2026

On perfect placements:
Seeing Robert McCabe Lively Matter live among the vines, vats and barrels of Vassaltis Vineyards has been the greatest of joys. Photographs of Santorini taken between 1954 and 1964, shown in a w**ery that continues to work with that very same landscape today: its volcanic soil, vines, light and seasons. Past and present, sharing the same space.
Speaking, not only for ourselves, but also for all those who enjoyed the exhibition with a glass of Assyrtiko in hand, we are grateful to Robert McCabe McCabe Photos and curator Christina Petkopoulou , and of course Vassaltis Vineyards for the uplifting experience.
A more fitting home for these photographs could never be.

Photo by McCabe Photos

**e **eyardsexhibition

27/10/2026

🏆💛Once again, The Vasilicos has been named among Tripadvisor's Travelers’ Choice BEST OF THE BEST, an honour reserved for the top 1% of listings on Tripadvisor, based entirely on traveller ratings and reviews. This year, rather than show you the badge, we thought we’d show you what brought it about.
The breakfasts that became the cornerstone of the experience. The V Team members mentioned by name. Dinners on the terrace that were enjoyed once, then had to be enjoyed again. The views, and the feeling of being suspended somewhere between the caldera and the Santorini sky. And, alongside all of this, the small details we might otherwise never know stayed with you.
This is your interpretation of The Vasilicos, the result of our work as you experienced it. This "behind the curtains" moment is one of our greatest pleasures, and absolutely what WE come for.
Thank you for coming. Thank you for noticing. Thank you for taking a little piece of The Vasilicos home with you, and for leaving a little piece of your hearts here.

22/10/2026

Comfort aside, there is something very special about wrapping up in a blanket and enjoying the outdoors for just a little longer. Our Kafé Piké, a rendering of the traditional Greek summer blanket, is a detail for moments just like these: cooler skies, a little breeze, an earlier sunset. Sometimes, all it takes to experience a magical moment is a blanket.

💜

20/10/2026

During the transition from private home to semi-private hotel, Vassaltis suite was completely redesigned. The bed was brought forward, towards the entrance, in a very bold reversal of the traditional layout that wants the living room in the front and the bedroom towards the rear.
This means that you wake up to the outside beckoning, the view essentially an extension of the bed, while the living room becomes a welcome respite from the blinding sun rather than a step towards it.
Architecture can dictate moods, create habits and reinforce rituals. It shapes the way you live, linger, and move about. Gently, without quite noticing, you settle into a pattern, the rhythm of the house..
And the house begins to feel like home.
🌿

15/10/2026

"Να σ' αγναντεύω, θάλασσα, να μη χορταίνω" - Κώστας Βάρναλης
“To gaze at you, sea, and always want more” - Kostas Varnalis
Always a home at heart, shaped by the people who have lived in it, loved it and looked out from it. This is the view that once captivated our passionate collector, looking out from his deckchairs, and today captivates us, and all who come through our gates (and even those who don't).

Come as a guest, leave as a lover.

Photo by

13/10/2026

Greek has a perfect word for this time of year, the tail end of summer: αποκαλόκαιρο /apokaˈlokero/☀️🌊
The word conjures up those magical days when the light softens, the rhythm slows down, but the Aegean is still warm and summer isn’t quite ready to leave. The feeling is like being onboard , another respectful, deeply personal labour of love. Kymatia is a meticulously restored 50 ft traditional wooden trehandiri. Any voyage with her is slow, meaningful, and full of intention, just as true journeys should be.

Apokalokairo in the Aegean: a little slower, a little quieter, still unmistakably summer.

08/10/2026

Pictured here, a very The Vasilicos lunch. Delicious, unpretentious, and perfectly paired with a glass of Vassaltis. **eryisbetterthanyours

**es

06/10/2026

Flanking the entrance of what used to be the main house, two basil plants - the ones that would subsequently give their name to the entire hotel - Vassilis translates to Basil, and, in Greek, the plant is called "vassilikos", which is also, aptly, the Greek word for regal.
In honour of its history as the main living room, the Vasilicos suite, named after the hotel, has been given a halo-like, custom-made light, and a regal headboard. The former kitchen and storage room have been transformed into an open plan bathroom and its (not open-plan) adjacent facilities.
What fun we had redesigning the spaces...what a challenging equation to solve. Such a privilege to be able to give new life to beloved places.

🌿

01/10/2026

The story of The Vasilicos begins with a strong friendship, and a deep love for beauty.
More than four decades ago, while visiting friends on the island, Vassilis Valambous fell in love with the rugged wildness of the Caldera. His summer house became a place for both company and solitude, the time spent here full of daily rituals and little habits. Good food, good w**e, interesting conversations, and a daily meeting with the sun at sunset...
And so our story began, rooted in beauty and the celebration of the good life. Much has changed over the years, but the principles at our core remain: a sense of place, things made and shared with care, and time well spent in good company.
Now a hotel perhaps, but always, at heart, a home. 💜🌿

NB. These deckchairs, beloved and iconic symbols of our home, have now relocated to Efta suite, in tribute to the endless hours spent Caldera-gazing, all those years ago.

Address

Agios Nicolaos Imerovigli
Thíra
84700

Telephone

+302286023143

Website

http://www.thevasilicos.com/

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