The Tsitouras Collection

Hotel description

Please note: The Tsitouras Collection is open from March 10th through October 31st.

Stunning sunset views, check. Whitewashed walls and complimentary cocktails, check. What distinguishes Tsitouras Collection from the various other high-end lodgings on Santorini is the hotel’s structure: unlike the sprawling resorts with infinity pools, Tsitouras is comprised of just five freestanding cottages situated on a cliff overlooking the sea.

Each cottage is attended by a butler staff, and is individually decorated according to one Greek theme or another. The House of Porcelain, for instance, is full of Royal Copenhagen china, while the House of Nureyev contains original sketches of the famous ballet dancer performing in Athens. The interiors are anything but spare, however — Dimitris Tsitouras, the namesake art collector who restored the hotel’s main building in 1985, has filled guest quarters with an impressive array of antique treasures that complement each cottage’s theme. From Beidermeyer chairs to Byzantine icons to Yamaha pianos, the details within these mini-museums stand in sharp contrast to the minimalist style of many contemporary hotels.

For all its precious antiquities, the hotel still lacks a pool and spa, facilities one might expect at a first-class resort (unless, of course, you book the extravagant and entirely separate TC Villa, which includes a private pool that appears to merge with the blue ocean beyond). But the chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Santorini while sleeping in the presence of a Picasso ceramic piece, as you could in the House of the Sea, is a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Don’t be surprised if you see some of the hotel’s furnishings under glass in the future — Mr. Tsitouras is currently working on a museum to house some of his many artifacts.