It may be hard to imagine Santorini without the image of white buildings tumbling down cliffs, punctuated by blue-domed churches, but this island hides a dramatic and powerful heart of black.
Black is part of the aesthetic of Venus Sunrise, and a tribute to the island’s volcano roots.
The origin story: how Santorini got its black rocks
Venus Sunrise was built on a foundation of black rock. To comprehend what makes this rock special, we need to return to ancient times.
Santorini (Thira) is the topmost piece of a huge volcanic structure that takes the form of a caldera on the ocean floor.
The alternating pressures caused by explosive eruptions and subsequent collapses formed the unique rock formations common to Santorini today. These are the result of lava, basalt, and obsidian volcanic glass cooling together with seawater. It is no surprise that the black stones and pumice characteristic of Santorini contrast so vividly with the white plastered buildings typical of Cycladic architecture.
A rock this dense keeps the heat of the sun close at hand, and the black stones and lava formations are a sign of hardiness and perseverance.
From the volcano to Venus Sunrise: black and white as the colors of Santorini
At Venus Sunrise, we took inspiration from the local environment. We have built a house in the middle of a caldera using black stones from volcanic eruptions at the edges to create contrasts against the white.
Our goal was to convey this feeling of local color with a touch of luxury to our guests.
We have incorporated black into the very fabric of the house, as a complement to the golden sand and white stone of the island. The beauty of the black color radiates upwards, contrasting with the white walls of Cycladic houses. Our black decoration elements set off the elegance of the white color and the luxury of the Aegean sunset.
Like the basalt pebbles that dot the streets of Thera, the Venus Sunrise black interior is rough to the touch, reminiscent of natural stone.
As for the walls of buildings made of black lava, they set a calm, protective tone for those who live in them. In this home, guests can leave the hustle and noise of their everyday life and plunge into the heart of nature.
Wake up in Santorini and feel the power of black stone
If you stay at Venus Sunrise, you will see unique colors that tell a real and beautiful story. With the morning sun, these rocks absorb the warmth of the sun, creating perfect conditions for relaxation. The black stone buildings in Venus Sunrise will help you feel the miracle of the warm sun, which opens up a world of color at dawn. We invite you to be surprised and experience this calm and peaceful state of meditation and get away from the troubles of everyday life.
Come to familiarize yourself with the local color of Santorini, feel the roughness of the local stone and enjoy our luxury accommodation.
All this is waiting for you at Venus Sunrise.
Panagiotis Inglesis is the co-owner and General manager of Athina Luxury Suites, along with his wife Mrs.Artemis Argyrou. Together they had a vision to create one of the best boutique hotels in Santorini and today they continue their vision…Athina Luxury Suites is considered one of the top hotels on the island.