Founded by Anna and Ioannis Chaidemenos, Canaves Collection began with the thoughtful transformation of two 17th-century wine caves. In 2026, the family-run brand celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of growth from these historic dwellings into one of the island’s most distinctive hospitality collections.Over the decades, the collection has thoughtfully expanded across the island, growing to four properties:Canaves Ena, Canaves Oia Suites, Canaves Sunday, and Canaves Epitome.
Embracing ‘philoxenia’ – the ancient Greek value of hospitality – the Chaidemenos family is dedicated to creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences that resonate in the hearts of their guests long after they depart the hotels. For the 2026 season, Canaves Collection is bringing local connections into the guest experience through Harvest and Heritage, a new initiative inviting guests to engage directly with the island’s producers, artisans, and culinary traditions through experiences including:
Hands-on clay workshops, working alongside a fourth-generation artisan
- Step into a working ceramics studio for a hands-on session exploring Santorini’s centuries-old pottery traditions. Guided by fourth-generation potter Andreas Makaris, the experience introduces the fundamentals of shaping clay on the wheel while surrounded by shelves of handcrafted vessels, from traditional wine jugs to contemporary pieces in vivid glazes.
- Originally from a family of potters in Naxos, Andreas Makaris relocated to Santorini in the 1980s and continues to create pieces inspired by prehistoric ceramics discovered at nearby Akrotiri and other ancient forms that have shaped the island’s craft for millennia. His work is also featured at Canaves Collection, where his handcrafted vases were selected to furnish the new suites at Canaves Ena in 2024.
- Sessions are conducted in Greek, with translation provided throughout, offering guests an authentic glimpse into the rhythms of a local artist’s studio while learning about the cultural history of ceramics in the Cyclades and creating their own piece to remember the experience.
A journey from sea to table experiencing the historic maritime heart of Ammoudi Bay
- For over twenty years, visitors have crossed the sparkling Aegean to Armeni Restaurant, a Santorini institution and local legend cherished by those in the know. The brief boat ride to reach the restaurant offers stunning views of the island’s cliffs and villages, giving a captivating glimpse into Santorini’s rich history and vibrant culture.
- Guided by lifelong seafarer Konstantinos “Kostas” Papalexopoulos, the journey traces Oia’s dramatic cliffs, passes the rock of Agios Nikolaos with its tiny chapel, and skirts the historic vakouses – cave dwellings carved into volcanic rock that once sheltered fishermen’s boats in winter and served as summer homes. From the water, the island’s rich maritime heritage comes vividly to life, making the passage itself an unforgettable part of the experience.
- Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with the morning’s fresh catch – dorado, sea bream, red mullet, or local sardines – brought directly from the fishermen’s ice boxes. Once you’ve selected your catch, it is grilled allowing the vibrant flavors of the Aegean to take center stage. After the meal, guests can stroll along the pebbled shore, explore tidal pools, or wander the cliffside paths, savoring uninterrupted views of Ammoudi Bay.
Field-to-table cooking classes within a vineyard, centered on Greek family recipes
- Classes unfold around a communal table at Aroma Avlis, the restaurant of Artemis Karamolegos Winery, where guests prepare traditional Santorinian dishes using seasonal ingredients from the estate and nearby farms. Set among vineyards stretching across the volcanic hillsides, the experience offers a relaxed and immersive way to connect with the island’s landscape, cuisine, and wines.
- Highlights include pork flash-seared and simmered in local sweet Vinsanto wine, the classic Greek salad with Santorini cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, capers, and local olive oil, and fresh Aegean seafood such as grilled octopus and calamari. Guests also prepare traditional favorites including fava (the island’s creamy split-pea purée), tomatokeftedes (Santorini’s famous cherry tomato fritters), kopania, and local cheeses such as kefalotyri and feta.
- The experience is curated by Margarita Karamolegou, a warm and knowledgeable member of the family behind the winery. For over 20 years, the Karamolegou’s have become one of Santorini’s most respected winemaking families, known for their varieties of Assyrtiko, crafting wines that reflect the island’s volcanic terroir and rich heritage.
Private photography sessions uncovering Santorini’s lesser-seen corners
- Guests are invited to explore Santorini through a private photography experience designed to capture the island’s landscapes and light at their most striking. Moving through carefully selected, lesser-known locations – from quiet beaches and cliffside paths to the black-sand shores of Vlychada, volcanic cliffs of Akrotiri, winding paths in Pyrgos, and hidden caldera viewpoints in Oia.
- The experience is guided by Machos Kapetanakis of Kapetanakis Studios, a family-run photography studio on the island known for documenting couples and families visiting from around the world. Sessions can be scheduled to make the most of the golden hours before sunset, offering soft, romantic light that enhances both dramatic landscapes and intimate moments.
- Whether wandering along coastal trails, pausing at panoramic viewpoints, or discovering quiet village alcoves, the experience results in a curated collection of photographs that capture lasting memories and discover some of Santorini’s most photogenic and secret corners.
Insider discoveries on foot from archaeological sites to local delicacies
- Beyond Santorini’s iconic blue domes and whitewashed walls lies a quieter, more intimate side of the island. Guests are guided through sun-warmed courtyards, peaceful village streets, and charming hidden corners, uncovering the secrets known only to locals. Along the way, guests savor authentic delicacies – from freshly baked pastries to regional wines – while exploring some of the island’s most captivating cultural landmarks, including the hilltop village of Pyrgos, the iconic chapel of Agios Nikolaos, and the ancient ruins of Akrotiri, enjoying rare insider access.
- The tour is led by Eugenia Liodaki, a native Santorinian who spent every summer of her childhood exploring the island with her family. Deeply immersed in its villages, traditions, and daily rhythms, Eugenia brings the island to life with stories only a local could know – family anecdotes, hidden corners, and insights into Santorini’s changing landscape over the years.
- From wandering secret alleyways with residents to tasting traditional treats in family-run tavernas, guests experience Santorini in an intimate, hands-on way – participating in daily life, connecting with its people, and uncovering the history, culture, and enduring spirit that make the island truly unforgettable.
