Kastro Mansion

There cannot be a better place to stay in Santorini! The views are stunning and the space is amazing. Irene is so very welcoming and helpful in making sure we had a memorable trip to Santorini. Pyrgos is serene and the Kastro Mansion is almost at the top, giving you an expansive view of the island. The windows open to classic church views of blue and white but have blackout shutters that enable you to forget what time it is. Having a kitchenette, along with other creature comforts like a robe and slippers, helped us feel right at home.

This is a magical hotel in a magical place. With just 6 rooms, you get personal service and the privacy of your own space. Irene is AMAZING! She went out of her way to make our trip special. The views are incredible but the people of this town make it the unique and special place it is.

This property is located in the heart of Pyrgos Kallisti up a labrynth of white washed stone alleyways. You don't feel like a tourist but a local who lives in Pyrgos. I am glad that Irene showed us where it was because it would be easy to miss if you were looking for it on your own. If you rent a car like we did, ask to meet Irene at the airport, as it was a bit tough to meet Irene in Pyrgos. We got lost in the village because of all the beautiful but winding walkways. Asked a random lady and she helped up find Irene (walked with us until we found her - she knew Irene and called her on her phone). I can't believe how nice the people of Pyrgos were. We went about two months after Greece re-opened so it was very quiet and not many tourists were around. It was easy to get to restaurants and we never had to wait for tables. The small shops in the village have some great items and the shopkeepers are very nice and personable. The property was very roomy. We had the two bedroom unit with the kitchenette. The unit had two AC's which kept the room very cool at night and the morning. It was unusually warm this summer so I was very thankful for that. The room was clean and the beds were very comfy. It had a small living room and a dining room which made it easy for the two of us to stay in without feeling claustrophobic. It has a coffee maker and tea kettle. They stock the mini-fridge with water every day. Our room came with daily breakfast from Penelope's. That was a big breakfast and it was very appreciated. Penelope's is a great restaurant to go to for lunch as well. The hot tub is very big and so relaxing (it takes about 1 whole day to get hot so keep that in mind). The people in the village are so nice. We stayed for several days and even ran into an elderly woman who I would see every morning and would always say Kalimera (good morning). Irene is very nice and helpful. Our shower head came off and she got someone to fix it on the same day. Her assistant even lugged our two large suitcases up the stairs to the unit. The unit is about 1/4 mile up a lot of stairs, so keep that in mind if you have mobility issues. Pyrgos is about 10 minutes from Fira by car. There is decent parking in Pyrgos and driving in Santorini was easy (I didn't think they drove crazy at all - but I am from Texas and drivers in Texas don't follow any traffic rules, so I might be an exception). Oia is a bit confusing to drive around and finding parking there was bit more of a challenge than Fira. There are only a handful of major roads and the signage is really good. It is hard to get truly lost in Santorini. Really close to Kastro is the Santo Winery which is very nice. Also Cava Alta, Penelopes, and Rosemary are great restaurants in Pyrgos which were not very expensive either. Great food at fair prices all over the village. I would definitely recommend the Kastro Mansion.