Aenaon Villas

Aenaon Villas is unique and a place that will kindle memories for years after your holiday on Santorini. Architecture, design, style, and all-important location set the tone of these contemporary Cycladic residences perched on the very edge of the famous caldera.   

Inspired by its remote blackened rocky perch and solo locale set between Imerovigli and Oia, it’s one of the few spots where you can view both the east-side beaches and the west aspects of Santorini. Aenaon, which means in Greek ''flowing continuously-unstoppably-eternally'', like a circular flow, is the brainchild of engineer-owner Giorgos and his creative wife, Alexandra.

Together with architect Giorgos Zacharopoulos, they designed the villas to hug the charred mountain contours, giving each ‘house’ a distinctive form. Large boulders, olive trees and traditional stone walling dart across the white-washed terraces, ensuring a thoughtful reminder of the island’s volcanic legacy. Smooth layered white interiors reference contemporary lines of design, which are cleverly provoked by the traditional crafted elements of sun-bleached woods and quarried stone – this is the signature of identity, locality and the simplicity of luxury.

Aenaon Villas has a native soul and captures the mystical spirit of the once charred island of Santorini using a smooth, natural tone against the unmistakable blue of the Aegean.

Built in traditional Cycladic architecture and characterised by their roomy spaciousness as well as a respect for pared-back design, there is a signature of identity, locality and simplicity of luxury. Terraces have infinity pools carved into the lava rock, providing a place to gaze at the endless blue sea. Interiors are a homage to that classic Santorini combo of white-on-white from wall to floor, deeply cushioned sofas and wooden furnishings. 

Serenity is at the foundation of Aenaon Villas - so when they came to design the spaces around the villas, they opted for a tasty room-pool-service concept rather than a full kitchen. Simple tastes of the island, including the sweetest Santorini tomatoes you have ever tasted, are matched with fond favourites from breakfast on your private terrace looking into the infinity of the Caldera, to lunchtime's classic Greek salad served poolside, to a little pre-sundown snack - you won't starve here.  

Some of the villas have a kitchenette so you can opt to cook yourself - or pop out to dine in one of the owner's listed top 10 restaurants, all a short drive away - tried and tested, of course, the owners know each place personally so you get to be treated like a local rather than a visitor - delish. 

Location next to style is key when visiting the sun-kissed Cycladic Island of Santorini, as it is all about that view of the Caldera. Aenaon Villas smashes this at every level, sitting on a very secluded plateau on the edge of the Caldera, just between the villages of Imerovigli and enchanting Oia. This special spot means you get your very own slice of uninterrupted Caldera views, gaze into infinity from the pool and sun loungers, all void of the crowds. Aenaon Villas is a romantic boutique setting nearby to beaches, vineyards, ports and villages.   

The creative duo behind Aenaon Villas are Giorgos and Alexandra Alexiou, joined by their equally talented daughters, Elly and Maria-Christina who recently created the new Charissa Villa. They are simply the nicest people you can ever meet, a couple who infuse you with their beautiful Greekness. They are the brains, hands and creative minds behind Aenaon Villas - Giorgos has the architectural eye and Alexandra is the hand of style that narrates the soul of this Santorini abode in pure white – her favourite colour.

“Doing something crazy was not always easy and our drive to create something different not always logical, but it was the best thing we ever did. We found our special spot on the edge of the Caldera itself.”  

This couple, as hosts, are rare to find, and we are glad we found them for you.