When most people think of Santorini, images of classic Cycladic architecture and whitewashed buildings come to mind. And that is, indeed, an accurate depiction of much of the Greek island; the main villages are overflowing with closely packed white hotels and homes, along with plentiful blue-domed churches. To outsiders, the sea of white might seem to be uniform, but if you happen to mention this to a local, you’re likely to be informed that many of the hotels and business actually feature a variety of very distinct milky-adjacent hues.
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Whether due to my laughably horrendous vision or tourist’s perspective, I personally found the vast majority of these whitewashed buildings to be nearly identical (and there’s nothing wrong with a postcard-worthy view), which made my arrival at Canaves Epitome all the more intriguing. From the moment you get a glimpse at the hotel, it’s clear that the property is a rather unique entity on the island. First of all, it’s set apart from the cluster of accommodations in the main towns, about a five-minute drive from Oia’s promenade, lending itself to a more private, secluded guest experience. Built from volcanic rock, the hotel largely features a grey, black and stone color palette, embracing an open, earthy ambiance that luxuriates in what is so rare in Santorini—actual space, and a break from the aforementioned all-white-everything.
“Back when we first had the idea for Epitome, people thought we were crazy for building in Oia, off the caldera,” Canaves marketing director Markos Chaidemenos told Observer on a recent trip to Epitome. “We made a big bet that people would want to use this space, with the privacy, the garden and with access to Oia. But it’s still away and set off, so you have private space, but you also have access........