Mesariá: Cave Houses, Mansions and Art

Mesariá is characterised by cave houses and imposing mansions. It is also home to historic windmills and the art offerings of MATI Mesaria. The village therefore combines a distinctive appearance with a range of cultural and culinary themes. When choosing a holiday apartment, these highlights may matter just as much as the other landscape, culture and cuisine themes Santorini has to offer.

Cave Houses, Mansions and Windmills

The present-day appearance of Mesariá is shaped by cave houses and imposing mansions. These two types of buildings create distinct architectural accents. The Argyros Mansion is a specific historical landmark: built in 1888, it was restored and converted into a museum. Its year of construction and subsequent conversion make the building a distinct chapter in the village’s history.

Two windmills stand in the west of Mesariá. In 1992, they were added to the permanent list of archaeological sites and monuments in Greece as historically protected monuments. One of the two is a ruin. Along with the houses and the mansion, the mills provide further historical points of reference for the village, while their stories remain distinct from one another and cannot be reduced to the same type of building.

Art and Wine at MATI

MATI Mesaria offers group exhibitions, artist residencies and a permanent solo exhibition featuring the work of Yorgos Kypris. Local and international artists are also part of the programme. Group events sit alongside a continuing presentation of one artist’s work; specific exhibitions and programme items may change.

The offerings also include a two-hour Wine + Art experience with a tasting of six wines from the traditional local Hatzidakis winery. The wine experience complements the art themes with a focus on enjoyment. If you would like to include this experience in your plans, check current availability directly with the venue.

Santorini: Landscape, Culture and Regional Cuisine

Santorini offers a broader landscape and cultural setting for planning your trip. The caldera was formed by a massive eruption around 1600 BC. Vlychada Beach has wild, pale cliffs that create a distinctive lunar landscape. Another perspective on the island can be found along the path following the edge of the caldera: it runs from Imerovigli to Oia and offers views of the sea, the caldera and the volcano.

Santorini also has a wide range of archaeological and historical themes. Akrotiri preserves remarkably well-preserved Minoan frescoes and buildings that were buried under volcanic ash. In August 1997, the ecclesiastical collection in Pyrgos opened as a permanent exhibition. Pyrgos itself was designated a protected settlement in 1995. Hiking trails also connect Pyrgos with Profitis Ilias, Emporio and Ancient Thera. The trails and cultural sites offer distinct themes to consider when planning the rest of your time on Santorini.

Santorini’s cuisine offers more discoveries. Santorini Fava is a PDO product made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L., which grows exclusively in the volcanic soil of Thera. The Santorini tomato is also a PDO product; it has been cultivated since the early 19th century. The white Santorini eggplant is distinguished by its sweet aroma and juicy flesh, which does not absorb oil when fried. Chloro is a creamy goat’s cheese produced in very limited quantities on Santorini. Local chefs use PDO cherry tomatoes to make tomato fritters called Tomatokeftedes.

When looking for a holiday apartment, it is worth sorting out your priorities: should Mesariá’s village character, with its mansions, cave houses and MATI offerings, be the deciding factor, or would you also like to take Santorini’s landscapes, archaeological sites, trails and cuisine into account? This can help you choose your destination based on the experiences that matter most to your trip.

Discover more destinations: Oía, Megalochori, Karterados, Anafi, Thirasia, Éxo Goniá, Vlychada, Agkali.

Back to the main travel overview: Santorini.