The name Zannos Melathron may sound like a science fiction super-hero straight out of Star Trek, but in fact it means Zannos’ Mansion. It was built by Santorini big wig Michael Zannos in the 19th century as an extension to an existing Renaissance house beside the medieval castle in the charming inland village of Pyrgos. Whilst the often-cramped traditional cave-rooms of the luxury and boutique hotels that cling to Santorini’s famous volcanic caldera are perfect for well-heeled, doe-eyed honeymooners, the generously-proportioned rooms at Zannos Melathron make the hotel a perfect alternative if you plan to take the kids (or pack your whole wardrobe) on a trip to Santorini.

The facilities

The whole hotel oozes old school charm from the moment you arrive by be-ribboned donkey. Reception is a small desk framed by beautiful, original frescoed ceilings, and the palatial spaces beyond, furnished in a baronial style, are dedicated to the hotel’s forte – fine dining. The acclaimed, Michelin-star quality menu has earned Zannos Melathron a reputation as one of the and guests regularly snap up the branded wine and porcelain as a perfect souvenir of their stay. With a new spa set to open in 2008 and the Agia Triada Convent’s Icons and Relics Collection of priceless hagiographies just up the road, Zannos Melathron offers a unique experience of Santorini beyond its legendary caldera.

The rooms

All thirteen rooms are individually named and guests get acres more space for their Euros than in the luxurious boutique hotels in the villages of Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani which are famed for their spectacular sunsets over the caldera. But that’s not to say that the sunsets from Zannos are to be sniffed at. The panoramic views from this grand boutique hotel span most of the island and its myriad, traditional white villages thanks to its elevated location.