This seaside mansion in Greece marries old-world charm with contemporary luxury

For some, it’s Italy that lures them for European summer getaways. For others, Spain eternally calls their name. For me, it’s always been the Greek islands. There’s just something about the combination of azure waters, dramatic coastlines with building-dotted cliff faces, plus the vibrant food and culture that makes it unlike anywhere else in the world. 

Sitting south-east off the coast of Athens is the island of Syros, and nestled in its town of Ermoupolis is the Aristide, a fully restored neoclassical mansion currently listed for sale with Welcome Beyond for €5.5 million.

It’s a building with plenty of history. The mansion was built in the 1920s by a prominent family of textile merchants and shipping magnates, and they called it home until the 1980s. It also once served as the Cycladic Tax Authority.

More recently, it’s undergone a meticulous restoration and transformation into a luxury residence, preserving its period details while incorporating modern comforts. It’s a home exuding elegance and sophistication, marrying old-world charm and art deco features with contemporary luxury. 

Behind its captivating pale pink facade, the mansion is as spacious as you’d expect. It has 10 bedrooms, each with a corresponding bathroom, and is set over four levels.

“We fell in love with the house and wanted to keep all the original details but also the feeling of spaciousness,” says owner Oana Aristide.

“Almost all the rooms and spaces are large; hallways are round or square, the ceilings are almost five metres high. And so we immediately decided that we needed to restore the house and upgrade all the utilities – electricity, plumbing, air-con, windows, insulation are all 100 per cent new — but with minimal interference with the original philosophy of the space.” 

Stepping inside is like stepping back in time. A dramatic marble staircase greets you, flanked by soaring ceilings adorned with intricate decorations, calming olive green walls, and doric columns crafted from Pentelikon marble – the same as the Acropolis. 

The lower ground floor boasts a fully equipped professional kitchen, a one-bedroom suite, and utility and storage spaces. The ground floor hosts the lobby and three-bedroom suites, while upstairs on the first floor, you’ll find five more bedrooms plus an art gallery space. The top floor boasts another bedroom suite and a stunning 220-square-metre roof terrace with ocean views. 

The property also features three plunge pools, a garden, smart-home features and triple glazing on the windows. Ample wood, glass, brass, and marble throughout give a contemporary, luxe feel. Bathrooms blend original ceiling decorations with modern updates like marine-grade stainless steel and rain showers.

Each room is adorned with carefully hand-picked interiors, and the home is being sold fully furnished, minus the private art collection.

“Most of the rooms have a sea view, and the rooftop is a wonderful large open space with panoramic sea views. Almost all the spaces, both indoors and outdoors, have a particular grandeur,” says Aristide.

“We think that our choice of keeping all period details but decorating the house with contemporary furniture and lighting makes it very airy and alive and avoids it feeling like a museum as can happen in historical properties.”

Elevate your living experience with our digital magazines

Browse Domain’s property and lifestyle magazines.

Read now

If you’re looking for a holiday home that offers returns as both a luxurious getaway and an investment, this one delivers in droves. It currently operates as a boutique hotel, offering the potential for lucrative returns. The property also hosts two bars — one in the lobby and one on the rooftop.

“We’ve made every effort to retain the feeling of a stately home, and we hope that nobody sees our rooms and thinks ‘hotel room’,” says Aristide.

“Apart from the particular architectural details, it’s a very unusual property for a Greek island in terms of both size and style – a completely modernised large neoclassical mansion, five minutes from the sea, with a private green space.”

As for the lifestyle, unlike Mykonos or Santorini, Syros has avoided mass tourism and retained a feeling of authenticity. It’s about 2.5 hours by boat from Athens or Mykonos, while there are also daily flights to Athens. Staying here presents a refreshing mix of island and urban life.

“Imagine a small historic European university town, but with eight months of summer and surrounded by sea. There are many restaurants and bars but very little by way of clubbing. There are archeological sites and a nature reserve that is superb for hikes in the cooler months,” says Aristide.