From Mesa Gonia to Kamari
Following the devastating 1956 earthquake, the old village of Mesa Gonia suffered extensive destruction and many families were forced to leave their homes and begin again.
As part of Santorini's reconstruction, a new village was created closer to the sea: Kamari. The settlement was planned under the direction of the renowned Greek architect Konstantinos Dekavallas, whose approach combined modern architectural thinking with the scale, climate and traditional character of Santorini. The planning incorporated principles we would today recognise as bioclimatic design, responding to the island's light, winds, orientation and natural environment.
Among the new homes created for the families of the old village, one was given to our family. It was a simple home, but it carried something much greater within it: the beginning of a new chapter for our family and a connection to one of the most important moments in the modern history of Kamari.
Years passed, and in 1986 our father, Fanouris, decided to give this place a new purpose.
Built with love, meraki and a vision for the future
Our father did not simply have an idea for Fanouris. He designed it and built it himself, with patience, dedication and meraki, that uniquely Greek feeling of putting your heart and soul into something you create. Above all, he built it with love and respect for his family, and with hope for the future of his children.
For him, Fanouris was never simply a business. It was something he was creating for his family: something that could remain through the years, grow with his children and one day be passed on to the next generation.
His vision became four independent apartments, each designed to comfortably accommodate two to three guests. He respected the simplicity, proportions and character of Cycladic architecture, keeping the white and blue that are inseparable from the identity of the Cyclades. The white reflects the brilliant light of the Aegean. The blue recalls the sea and the endless Santorini sky.
Our father never wanted Fanouris to become a large or impersonal hotel. He wanted a small place within the village, surrounded by the homes and everyday life of Kamari, where guests could feel they were staying in a home in Santorini rather than in a hotel room.
A place to experience not only the famous views, beaches and attractions of Santorini, but the everyday life of the island: to wake up in a real neighbourhood, see the village begin its day, meet local people, feel the Cycladic light and the Aegean air, and live the rhythm of Santorini, even for a few days. That was the original idea behind Fanouris Condo, and it has never changed.
The original design, preserved until today
When the time came for our generation to renew Fanouris Condo, we knew from the beginning that we did not want to change our father's original vision. The architectural concept, the arrangement of the four apartments and the character of the property were preserved.
Rather than redesigning Fanouris into something different, we adapted the original design to the needs of today. Modern technology, contemporary comforts and the facilities expected by today's traveller were carefully added, while respecting what our father created in 1986.
The white remained. The blue remained. The simplicity remained. The four apartments stayed true to their original concept, and so did the feeling of a small family property in the neighbourhood of Kamari. The original idea did not need to change. It simply needed to be prepared for a new generation.
Looking towards the future
Our father created Fanouris while thinking about the future of his children. Today, as his children continue his work, we believe that looking towards the future also means taking responsibility for the environment and for the island that has been our family's home for generations.
This is why Fanouris Condo has gradually evolved into an eco-conscious accommodation, combining its original architecture with modern energy efficiency, responsible operation and contemporary comfort. Today we hold a Four Keys classification, Green Key certification and ISO 9001 certification, reflecting our commitment to quality, sustainability and responsible hospitality.
We want our guests to discover more than the famous image of the island: its villages, its paths, its landscape, its people and its nature.
Caring for the place we call home
For us, environmental responsibility and hospitality do not end at the entrance of Fanouris Condo. Directly opposite the house is a public park, a small green space that belongs to the neighbourhood and is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
We care for and maintain this park at our own expense, as our small contribution to the community. We believe a business should not only benefit from the place where it operates; it should also give something back. Looking after this shared space is another expression of the values Fanouris was built on: care, respect and responsibility.
It is a place for our neighbours, for children and families, for our guests, and for every visitor who wants to stop for a moment and enjoy a small green corner of Kamari.
A family story that continues
When our father designed and built Fanouris in 1986, he was looking towards the future of his children. Today, we are that future, and our responsibility is to protect what he created while preparing it for those who will come after us.
From the old village of Mesa Gonia to the new settlement of Kamari. From the home our family received after the earthquake to the four apartments our father designed and built. From his original vision in 1986 to the environmentally responsible accommodation of today. And from one generation of our family to the next.
Fanouris Condo remains the white-and-blue home our father imagined, designed and built with his own hands. Four apartments in the heart of Kamari, where we hope our guests can experience Santorini the way he always imagined: a little more like a local, and a little less like a tourist.
