The Tsitouras Collection Hotel

From the first moment of stepping through the immaculate arched entrance it's evident there's something rather special about the Tsitouras Collection Hotel. A flawless combination of gently curving walls, pretty domes, and molded staircases are finished in impossibly crisp whites, providing the effortlessly cool canvas for numerous artworks that make this property truly unique. Having served as a school, post office, and private residence, this 18th-century mansion was renovated in 1985 by famous art collector, Dimitris Tsitouras, to host friends and house his collection. Nowadays, however, the property comprises five individually styled suites awash with museum-quality art pieces, much of it dating back centuries. The pool area was added in 2010 and its terrace was named after Greek soprano Maria Callas, whose bronze bust looks out over the Aegean sea (where her ashes were scattered) toward stunning caldera sunsets. Hospitality is super personalized, with Eleni Tsitouras, daughter of Dimitris, offering plenty of advice to guests -- many of whom include famous fashion designers, movie stars, and business tycoons. 

The hotel is located just off a cobbled footpath in Firostefani -- a pretty cliff-top village just north of Fira. While there are several charming little restaurants to explore in the immediate surrounds, the bustling Santorini capital also within walking distance -- albeit via numerous steps. The setting also means particularly expansive panoramic views over the iconic caldera, while the village of Imerovigli known for its many lovely churches is a 10-minute stroll along the coast. The property is around 15 minutes' drive from Santorini Airport, though visitors have to travel the last few minutes on foot. The hotel provides free transfers to and from the airport.

There are five spacious and individually designed suites or houses decorated with unique and often valuable artworks from the owner's private collection. Each is named according to its distinct character and collection, from the dream-like House of the Portraits -- full of gilt-framed oil paintings and 18th-century antiques -- to the House of Porcelain with 19th-century china and Venetian mirrors. Popular with honeymooners, the House of Nureyev is the only unit to have its own private terrace overlooking the caldera -- though all accommodation has views over the Aegean Sea. In-room tech is suitably upscale -- including 32-inch flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi -- while luxury touches include bathrobes and free fully stocked minibars. While each room has its own router, thick walls means signal is weak in places. 

As there's no restaurant at the hotel, an a la carte breakfast is served in-room and offers a particularly excellent selection of pastries, cold cuts, and cooked-to-order eggs -- delivered with a daily newspaper and included in the rate. While light snacks are available from the pool bar during the day, the hotel also hosts private fine dining on the terrace for couples in the evening. This can, however, result in other guests being redirected from the terrace area. The infinity edge pool provides a particularly chic place to cool off with loungers and caldera views, while a masseuse is on hand offering a range of treatments on the terrace or in-room.