37°23’57”N, 24°51’50”E Syros I Hideaway, Greece

Athenian Block722 architects+ Sotiris Tsergas and Katja Margaritoglou’s simple concept and low-volume spaces are sublime. Accessed via herb-scented courtyards, this Syros holiday home is expressed in the architectural lingua franca of the Cyclades: rough-cut stone, natural light, white walls, untreated timber and stepped terraces.

The interior pays tribute to the island’s heritage as an art centre and historic maritime gateway: hemp-rope lamps, handmade storm lanterns and a whispering of colour – soft grey, ivory and putty linens, the occasional splash of indigo – sit quietly against polished concrete and wood.

Beyond the sky-lit island kitchen in the airy living space, there is an inviting alfresco kitchen situated next to the outdoor dining area and numerous comfortable spaces to find privacy and retreat from the sun. The spacious master bedroom with a sunken bathtub is perfect for soaking to spectacular views. Two further ensuite doubles overlooking the pool and another pair of double bedrooms and bathrooms on the level below share the same aesthetic and jaw-dropping vistas.

This is a place to press pause: to enjoy the solitude or share memory-making meals with friends and family.  If you’re a bigger tribe, book in combination with Syros II Hideaway on adjacent plot.

How far to the nearest…

• Resident/Neighbour 300m
• Beach 500m
• Café/Restaurant 600m
• Shop 800m
• Town 1km
• Domestic airport 12km / 20-min drive

Location Set in a 4,000sq m private estate on an unspoilt island so small that nothing is too far away to enjoy in a day.

Build Minimal environmental disturbance: the villa’s footprint and built-in steps follow the natural slope of the ground. Locally sourced building materials, including stone quarried on site.

Energy The house is virtually passive, with a geothermal boiler providing underfloor heating and cooling. Rainwater is collected for household use.

Digital detox Willpower required: there’s a satellite flat-screen TV in the main living area, on-demand WiFi, good phone signal and an iPad-controlled sound system with indoor and outdoor speakers.

Creature comforts Sunbed-dotted terraces, saltwater infinity pool and jacuzzi, outdoor shower, summer kitchen and BBQ area. Fully equipped kitchen with coffee machine. Landline. Local mobile phone for emergency use. Washer-dryer.

Syros is still relatively undiscovered by the summer sun-seeking crowds, but comes into its own in the sleepy months of October to April. Winter’s gentle climate garnishes hilltops in green; and come spring, wildflowers bloom and blossoms decorate fruit trees like a scattering of confetti.

Go slow

Greet the spectacular dawn with sun salutations on your sunrise-facing terrace. Breakfast on silky yoghurt laced with thyme honey, figs and walnuts; gather ingredients and pluck herbs from the garden for a sunset barbecue on the terrace.

Stroll down to the beach for a refreshing swim. Windsurf, kayak or sail your way to secluded bays. Follow hiking trails to ancient caves and archaeological sites. Trace time through architecture – from bougainvillea-draped mediaeval passages to elegant neo-classical buildings and Venetian palazzi – in the elegant harbour town of Ermoupolis.

Watch weather come and go as it plays out a spectacular natural display across the infinite seascape.

Engage

Explore authentic villages by bike in autumn; hike donkey tracks across the rugged interior in winter. Climb up to Pherecydes’ cave to pay homage to the inventor of the sundial, or down to wild swimming spots: your nearest – Kokkina’s wind-sheltered, tamarisk-shaded cove – is a few minutes away. Follow the scent of spring flowers to secluded Varvarousa bay. Learn to sail or charter a boat from Finikas or Kini and seek out your own private beach, or visit cave-carved coastal chapel Agios Stefanos. Swim and snorkel off the soft sands at Agathopes, or saddle up for horseback expeditions with Cyclades Riding Club. Art and archaeology await in abundance: Syros’ sophisticated cultural calendar spans film festivals and heritage events.

Savour

Sweet sea breezes and blazing light nurture flavorsome cliff-grown capers and sun-dried tomatoes, delicious dairy produce (including spicy, nutty San Michali cheese), organic beef and pork laced with local fennel. Pluck oregano, thyme and sage from your garden to pair with fresh grilled fish, or seek out featherlight filo-wrapped bougatsa pastries and picnic-perfect spanakopita from nearby Ntanos Bakery in Finikas – the island’s best – and take them to your favourite beach. Finikas also hosts Syros’ best fishmongers and butcher’s: Prinias supplies leading restaurants with its organic meat, including avant-garde Greek eatery Peri Tinos in Ermapoulis. Around the bay in Poseidonia, family-friendly Le Perroquet Tranquille, set in a traditional stone house with a pretty garden, offers a Provençal twist on local fare. Romance abounds at Mazi in Ermapoulis, a wonderful setting in a secret garden draped with curtains of trailing greenery.