Perivolas Traditional Houses

A collection of luxury vaulted suites half-dug into the cliffside above Santorini’s sparkling, sea-filled caldera

It was the touch of something moist on my toes that woke me from my reverie. I opened my eyes to see a black cat with wet snout and golden eyes scampering off across the sun-baked stones. Behind this was a vista to beat any daydream: a turquoise pool slipping seamlessly into an aqua-marine sea far below, this dazzling blueness ringed by the brown of ashen cliffs and topped by the white of myriad houses and church domes.

Where else could I be but on the volcanic island of Santorini? Or, more precisely, slumped in a deckchair on the poolside of Perivolas, a collection of traditional vaulted houses perched above the sea-filled cauldron at Oia. With its organically curved terraces spilling down the slope, its cool white skaftárooms half-dug into the mountain-side, its carefully manicured gardens, and its infinity pool, this must be one of the most hallowed pieces of earth in the whole Med. Black cats clearly bring good luck in this part of the world.

Highs

• Swimming in the stunning infinity pool above the sea
• Relaxing in your own stylish sitting room
• Tucking into a delicious breakfast buffet
• Watching the sun set over Oia’s rooftops
• Shopping in the boutiques of Fera
• Exploring the lava islets by boat

Lows

• It’s expensive, especially by Greek standards
• It’s often full (but no large groups, thankfully), so early booking is strongly recommended
• The rooms are (deliberately) dark – for coolness