Bellonias Villas

Somewhere on the long list of good things that originated in Greece — the Olympic Games, feta cheese, democracy — is architecture. There are the buildings you’ll view on sightseeing tours, the ancient temples and grand palaces of the Acropolis, and there’s the Cycladic tradition. These are the buildings you’ll actually sleep in and wander past while staying on the islands, the charming whitewashed houses and blue-domed churches you’ll never tire of photographing. Bellonias Villas, on Santorini, is a contemporary take on that quaintly rustic Cycladic aesthetic. Like the island’s older buildings, it’s all smooth stucco, clean lines, curving archways, and petite windows that reveal picture-perfect views of the Aegean Sea. But inside the hotel’s 27 villa suites, the look is modern and minimalist.

Just a few pieces here and there — a geometric painting, a quirky lamp, a coffee table made of petrified wood — add color and character to interiors that are otherwise sleek and silent. The floors are pressed cement, and the beds built-in, low to the ground and dressed with soft white linens. Marble bathrooms, stocked with organic products by Apivita. There’s a flat-screen TV and an iPod docking station, too, though you might be tempted to trade your tech-driven routine for fresh air and a couple of drinks on your private patio or terrace — whipping up coffee or tea is a snap, as each suite has a fully equipped kitchenette.

There’s hardly a bad location on an island as spectacularly beautiful as Santorini, but Bellonias Villas has a particularly great one, practically right on the black volcanic sands of Kamari Beach. Elia, the hotel’s signature restaurant, offers sweeping sea views from every seat. Perhaps even more appealing is the striking outdoor bar, smartly positioned right next to the swimming pool. Like a giant mirror, the pool reflects the magnificent island landscape — rocky cliffs, deep blue water — so that when you’re reclining on a lounge chair, sipping a cocktail at sunset, you get to enjoy the view twice. Might as well do the same with the drinks: they’re made with organic spirits and locally grown fruits.

Please note: Bellonias Villas is a seasonal hotel and accepts reservations from late April to mid-October annually.