Demeter Cave House

Vaulted Grecian Refuge for Two

An intimate hollow for two, this cozy cave in Santorini’s best-preserved traditional village, Pyrgos, calls up all the right end-of-the-earth-secret-refuge vibes needed for a romantic getaway. Partially subterranean, the heritage building was entirely renovated by LKMK Architects, who covered its ancient, vaulted volumes with a classic coat of Cycladic white and turned the compact space into a modern love nest, complete with a tiny courtyard with a hot tub, a cavernous bathroom, and a private roof deck next door to an ancient chapel.

A crisply updated, classy-casual refuge for lovebirds seeking an intimate getaway, this vacation home for rent in Greece is literally tucked into a hillside, sharing sidewalk space with the adjacent Agios Demetrios chapel it’s named for. Behind its vivid courtyard entry and past its heated outdoor tub and bistro table for two, the once crumbling original façade tunnels brightly into the limestone hillside. The arcing, cave-turned-island-studio leads from kitchenette to whitewashed living and sleeping spaces, to a dove-grey bathroom with a couple’s drench shower. 

Curvaceous and cozy, the property’s cherry on top is its rooftop terrace, outfitted with both chaises and chairs, and offering an eyeful of classic Cycladic beauty, from the double belfry tower of the chapel to the gleaming waters of the Aegean in the near distance.

Around

This vacation home for rent in Greece is located in Pyrgos on the island of Santorini. Almost entirely car-free and dominated by crumbling castle ruins, Pyrgos is widely considered Santorini’s best preserved historical village. Forty-six churches with their belfries, blue domes and pointy towers fill the town’s horizon, the island’s highest, and whitewashed cave houses curve around its periphery. Life moves at a slower pace here than in other spots on Santorini. Pyrgos’ bougainvillea-filled streets feature low-key local tavernas and cafes serving delectable mezze and a non-stop flow of ouzo or Assyrtiko, the white wine grown in the vineyards of the surrounding hillsides. Pine trees shade Pyrgos’s main square, and here and on other smaller plazas, outdoor tables and benches fill with a mostly-local crowd who gather for games of backgammon or checkers, or to catch up on the local gossip. 

Further afield, the black sand beaches of the east coast and the island’s famed Caldera cliffs offer classic Santorini landscapes along the azure Aegean. And the island’s more happening village, the capital of Fira, with its cable car, harbor, and bars, boutiques and restaurants is a quick 6km from the house.

Location

Pyrgos, Santorini, Greece. Nearest airport: Santorini/Fira (6km)

Best time to visit

May to October