Argyros Mansion “Αρχοντικό Αργυρού”

Argyros Mansion (Archontiko Argyrou) in Messaria is the only restored 19th-century mansion on Santorini that is open to the public. George Argyros, a landowner and wine merchant, built the neoclassical upper floor in 1888 on top of a family house from around 1860. He hired local craftsmen who had worked on neoclassical mansions in Athens. At the time, Messaria was the center of the island’s wine trade, and Vinsanto exports paid for the painted ceilings, period furniture and household objects that are still in the rooms today.

The 1956 earthquake brought down the southeast corner and the roof of the main hall, and the house then stood empty for about 35 years. In 1985 the Greek Ministry of Culture declared it a notable example of the architecture of its time. Restoration ran from 1987 to 1994, and the project won a Europa Nostra diploma in 1997. Guided tours cover the upper floor, including the living and dining rooms, George Argyros’s office, and his and his wife’s bedrooms. The ground floor, which is the older house, is now a guesthouse.

Plan your visit between May and October, when the mansion usually opens for guided tours. It closes on at least two weekdays, and the published hours don’t match from one source to another. Before you go, call +30 22860 31669 or check the official Argyros Mansion website.