Anzo Villas, cave-carved villa estate, Oia, Santorini

A Cave-Villa Estate on the Quiet Side of Santorini

Anzo Villas sit on a 7,000-square-meter hillside below Oia, built by their architect-owners. The five villas are cave-style, carved into the rock in the Cycladic tradition, with a contemporary hand over the top: smooth cement surfaces, built-in beds and seating, and a palette drawn from the volcanic ground underfoot. Where Santorini usually rewards squeezing rooms toward a caldera view, the architect-owners did the opposite. There are eleven bedrooms across five villas.

Inside, the material palette stays close to the island. Walls and surfaces are smooth cement in earth tones, warmed by built-in beds and seating that read as part of the structure rather than furniture set against it. Bathrooms are oversized, several with a heated Jacuzzi, and the beds are dressed in premium linens with a pillow menu for guests who want to choose their own.

Each villa opens onto its own outdoor rooms: a private pool, a shaded dining area, and an interior courtyard cut into the rock. The estate adds an indoor pool and a seasonal outdoor pool for the group to share. The hillside turns every terrace toward the Aegean, the vineyards, and the sunset, and with little light pollution this far from Oia's crowds, the night sky takes over and the moon rises in front of the villas.

Layout

This vacation home for rent below Oia, Santorini, sleeps up to 22 guests across its five villas. Each bedroom has a king bed, and each villa has its own living space, kitchen, private pool, and interior courtyard. Beds are built up to 2.4 meters for taller guests.

• Serenity Villa: 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, sleeps 2

• Triangle Villa: 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 4

• Blue Bliss Villa: 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 6

• Secret Garden Villa: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sleeps 4

• Dreamscape Villa: 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, sleeps 6

Experiences

A private chef for in-villa dining, in-room spa treatments and Swedish massage, and wine tastings are all available on request. Boat trips out to the caldera and the volcanic islets, and helicopter or aeroplane tours of the island, can be booked through the concierge, along with beauty treatments and a private driver.

Good to know

The estate operates seasonally, from July 1 to October 31. There is a minimum check-in age of 18. A concierge, daily maid service, and Wi-Fi are included. Airport and port transfers, a private chef, butler, personal driver, and laundry are available on request for an extra charge. Children are welcome, and cots are free on request. Pets are not allowed. Parking is private and on-site. Each of the five villas has its own entrance and pool.

Amenities & services

Included: Air conditioning, barbecue and outdoor dining area, bell boy service, Bluetooth sound system, comfortable mattresses and premium bed linens, concierge, daily maid service, espresso machine, fully equipped kitchen, heated private swimming pool, heated Jacuzzi, indoor pool, interior courtyard, outdoor shower, pillow menu, pool towels, premium bathroom amenities, private balcony/sea-view rooms, private parking, safe deposit box, satellite TV, seasonal outdoor pool, smart TV and streaming services, terrace/furnished patio, welcome basket, Wi-Fi internet access, yoga space, free cots/infant beds (on request)

On request at additional cost: Airport and port transfer service, beach shuttle, beauty treatments, boat trips, butler service, car and motorbike rental, doctor, helicopter and aeroplane tours, in-room spa services, laundry and ironing service, massage, personal driver service, private chef, wine tasting experience

Around

Below Oia, the island quiets down. The estate sits on the northern slope, within walking distance of Baxedes and Kouloumbos, two of Santorini's dark-sand beaches that don't have the caldera-side crowds. Old walking paths thread through the vineyards toward the coast, and several local wineries are close enough to reach on foot. Oia itself is a short drive up the hill, with its restaurants, galleries, and the sunset that draws the island's crowds each evening. For a quieter table, the tavernas around Baxedes and down at Ammoudi Bay serve the day's catch.