Arriving on the island feels almost cinematic. The landscape changes dramatically as the road winds through volcanic terrain, whitewashed villages begin appearing against the blue of the Aegean, and suddenly the horizon seems impossibly wide.
Everything is brighter in Santorini: the sunlight, the sea, the white of the buildings, and somehow, even the simplest moments feel like scenes from a film.But to truly experience Santorini, you have to find the right place to stay.For my latest escape to Greece, I found myself in Imerovigli, at Gizis Exclusive, a resort perched on the cliffs overlooking the famous Caldera. And from the moment I arrived, it became clear that the view wasn’t simply part of the hotel.It was the hotel.
The Island..
Located just a short distance from Fira, Imerovigli feels like a quieter, more intimate side of Santorini. Its name comes from the Greek word “vigla,” meaning lookout point, and once you arrive, the reason becomes immediately obvious.The village seems suspended above the Aegean.Volcanic cliffs fall away beneath you, the sea stretches endlessly toward the horizon, and the islands scattered across the Caldera create a landscape that almost doesn’t look real.
This is the Santorini you imagine before you arrive.And Gizis Exclusive is positioned right in the middle of it.
Set directly on the cliffside, the property embraces the island’s traditional Cycladic character — whitewashed forms, curved lines, terraces and open spaces that allow the surrounding landscape to remain the star. There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about the architecture. Nothing feels as though it is fighting for attention. Instead, the hotel seems to follow the natural rhythm of the island: white against volcanic rock, blue against white, sunlight moving across the walls throughout the day.You wake up and the Aegean is there.You step outside and the Caldera is there.You sit down for breakfast and, once again, the horizon is there.
The room...
My room quickly became one of those spaces where you don’t feel any urgency to leave.Gizis’ accommodation follows the traditional Cycladic aesthetic while giving the rooms a distinctly comfortable, contemporary feel. Several categories open directly toward the Aegean and Caldera, while the suites take the experience even further, with private outdoor Jacuzzis overlooking the landscape. But the most luxurious feature is something you can’t actually put on a room-service menu.The view.There is a particular kind of luxury in opening your eyes in the morning, walking toward the terrace and realising that the first thing you’re looking at is one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Greece.The room becomes less of a place to sleep and more of a private frame for Santorini.In the morning, the light is soft and almost silver.By afternoon, everything turns intensely blue.And as the sun begins to disappear, the entire landscape changes again.You don’t need a television.You have the Caldera.
Breakfast with a view...
Mornings at Gizis begin slowly.And that feels appropriate.Breakfast is served with the Aegean stretching out in front of you, turning what would normally be a simple part of the day into something much more memorable. The property has a dedicated breakfast area, and the experience is very much about enjoying the moment rather than rushing through it. Coffee tastes different when you’re looking at the volcanic islands.Fresh fruit tastes better in the Greek sunshine.And somehow, you find yourself taking much longer than usual to finish breakfast — not because there is nowhere to go, but because there is nowhere you would rather be.
The food...
Food in Greece has always been about more than simply eating.It is about sitting down.Sharing.Taking your time.Letting lunch become an afternoon and dinner become an evening.At Gizis, the setting naturally lends itself to that philosophy. The property offers breakfast as well as dining and bar facilities, with the surrounding landscape providing an almost impossible backdrop to any meal. And outside the resort, Imerovigli gives you the chance to experience the island’s traditional tavernas, restaurants and cafés without having to venture far.There is something wonderfully Mediterranean about it all: a table, something cold to drink, local flavours, warm air and the sound of the Aegean somewhere below.No schedule.No rush.
Just Greece.
The ambience...
What I loved most about Gizis was the feeling of being away without ever feeling disconnected.There is a calmness to the property that makes you naturally lower your pace.Afternoons are made for the pool.For reading.For disappearing into the shade for a while.For sitting somewhere with a drink and realising that you have been staring at the sea for twenty minutes.The property has an outdoor swimming pool, sunbeds and umbrellas, while selected suites also offer private Jacuzzis. There is also concierge service and the possibility of arranging experiences such as boat trips around the Caldera. And that is perhaps the greatest luxury of Santorini: there is always something to do, but absolutely nothing that you have to do.
When the sun goes down...
Then comes the moment everyone comes to Santorini for.Sunset. From Imerovigli, the landscape slowly transforms as the afternoon light begins to soften. The white buildings take on warmer tones, the Aegean becomes darker and more reflective, and the volcanic cliffs begin to disappear into the evening.You can feel everyone around you quietly waiting for the same thing. And then the sun begins to fall. For a few minutes, everything becomes gold.This is when Santorini stops feeling like a destination and starts feeling like a memory being created in real time. Standing above the Caldera, watching the last light disappear across the Aegean, I understood why people return to this island again and again.It isn’t simply beautiful.It makes you feel something.
Santorini. Slowly...
Perhaps that is what I will remember most about my stay at Gizis Exclusive.Not one particular photograph.Not one particular meal.But the feeling of waking up somewhere where the landscape does most of the talking.Santorini has a reputation for being spectacular, but the real magic happens when you stop trying to see everything.Stay a little longer on the terrace.Take another coffee.Let the afternoon disappear by the pool.Watch the sunset without reaching for your phone.And for a few days, let the island set the pace.At Gizis Exclusive, the Caldera isn’t simply something you come to see.It becomes part of where you are. And once you’ve experienced Santorini that way, it’s surprisingly difficult to imagine experiencing it any other way.
Words by Alessio Filippelli
