Mesariá: Art, Wine and Architecture

Mesariá combines a townscape of cave houses and grand mansions with specific cultural offerings. On Santorini, the broader perspective of the volcanic landscape and regional produce adds another dimension.

Art and Wine at MATI Mesaria

MATI Mesaria offers group exhibitions, artist residencies and a permanent solo exhibition dedicated to the work of Yorgos Kypris. The programme also features local and international artists. The different formats have distinct focuses: a group exhibition brings together several artistic perspectives, while a solo exhibition is dedicated to the work of a named artist. Artist residencies add another focus alongside the exhibitions. The specific programme may change; if a particular exhibition is important to your trip, check the current information with MATI Mesaria.

The two-hour Wine + Art experience at MATI Mesaria combines art with a tasting of six wines from the traditional local Hatzidakis winery. The duration and number of wines give you a clear idea of what the experience involves. For planning, it is therefore worth taking this time commitment into account; check availability directly with the venue. If your main interest is art, exhibitions and artist residencies offer different formats from the experience that includes a wine tasting.

Cave Houses, Mansions and Windmills

Today, Mesariá’s townscape is characterised by cave houses and grand mansions. The Argyros Mansion was built in 1888, later restored and converted into a museum. Its history therefore comprises several clearly distinct stages: its construction, restoration and subsequent conversion into a museum. This connects the architectural history of a specific mansion with the townscape’s distinctive character.

Two windmills stand in the west of Mesariá. In 1992, they were added to Greece’s permanent list of archaeological sites and monuments as historically protected monuments. One of the windmills is a ruin. While the Argyros Mansion’s year of construction and subsequent conversion are important points of reference, the windmills are notable for their protected monument status. Together, the buildings illustrate different aspects of Mesariá’s architectural history.

Santorini in a Broader Context

Santorini’s geographical context extends beyond Mesariá. Santorini is the southernmost island in the Cyclades; the caldera was formed by a massive eruption around 1600 BC, and the island group is shaped by active volcanoes. These regional features sit alongside Mesariá’s cultural offerings. When choosing accommodation based on your interests, you can therefore distinguish between Mesariá’s townscape and offerings and the geological perspective of the destination as a whole.

Santorini’s regional cuisine also offers specific points of interest. Santorini Fava is a PDO product made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L., which grows exclusively in the volcanic soil of Thera. The Santorini tomato also has PDO status and has been cultivated since the early 19th century. Local chefs make tomatokeftedes, tomato fritters, with PDO cherry tomatoes. The white Santorini eggplant has a sweet aroma and juicy flesh that does not absorb oil when fried. Chloro is a creamy goat’s cheese produced in very limited quantities on Santorini. These regional products and dishes complement the cultural and wine offerings described for Mesariá with further aspects of the island.

Discover more destinations: Akrotírion, Vothonas, Karterados, Vlychada, Mylopotas, Imerovigli, Ano Meria, Íos

For the full travel overview: Santorini.