Brand new 1900 Hotel in Symi is housed in an impeccably restored and decorated seafront house
The best way to experience the unique ambience of famously romantic and picturesque Symi is by choosing to stay in one of its trademark colourful buildings. 1900 Hotel – already in the list with the best hotels in Symi – opened a few months ago and caught all Symi lovers’ eyes, housed in a neoclassical mansion that traces its history as far as the 19th century. Through the careful and thoughtful restoration by Dimitris Zografos (an architect of Symiot descent and an expert in local renovations), this architectural gem keeps its heritage alive and gives its guests the opportunity to relive a modern version of its history.
A little bit of history on 1900 Symi Hotel
This historical building, a 19th century listed neoclassical mansion, is known as the Mastoridis Mansion. The story behind the family is that Mastoridis was the person who brought the first autonomous diving suit (“scafandro” in Greek) to Greece and Symi. It was given to him as a present from the British (1862), with whom he was working as a captain at the West Indies. The plot of the story thickens as it was his wife, a woman back in 1862, that had the courage to try it for the first time in front of all the men, who were reluctant to do so at the time. This was historically the year that marked the economic climb and flourishes of Symi and it was this incident itself that changed the map for the economy of the Dodecanese Islands.
Α heritage building turns into one of the best hotels in Symi
Fast forward to 2021, the year that 1900 Hotel opened for visitors that love the mixture of vintage elements coupled with simple forms and luxuries of today.
The unique ambience is enhanced by high painted ceilings and walls in vibrant colours as well as the unobstructed vistas of maybe the most beautiful port in Greece. As guests walk through the 1900 Hotel and its fabulous interiors, they strongly feel the heavenly allure of a bygone era. Through the large openings and strategic location of the building, one becomes a private spectator of the colourful life of the harbour.
The main rooms of the house were smoothly transformed into four elegant suites soaked in history:
1901: Composed of the two main rooms of the mansion (“saloni” and “sala”), the grand suite is a jewel on its own. The eye-catching high ceilings, painted by highly skilled artists of the time are fully restored and are simply stunning. In the bedroom, the ceiling features Eros, the God of love. Not only the bedroom but also the en-suite bathroom boasts a wonderfully painted ceiling and two windows that overlook the harbour.
1902: The old kitchen is now a 24sq.m. room, carrying the spirit of the home, with beautiful elements kept intact, such as the old fireplace, the built-in closet, shelves and niches. The room where the family gathered has been transformed into a bedroom full of character.
1903: A 20sq.m. room with 3 large windows, filled with light and offering amazing views of the harbour and open sea that guests can also cherish from its 14sq.m. private area on the top floor veranda. This room used to be one of the mansion’s bedrooms.
1904: A beautifully proportioned, comfortable and quiet 25sq.m. hideaway mystically filled with natural light, was the mansion’s main bedroom, offering privacy and views of the port from all its windows.
You may not need any excuses to visit Symi but in any case, 1900 Hotel is a reason itself to start planning a trip to the idyllic island!
See also:
Aristide Hotel brings a fresh, eco-friendly and artsy breeze to Syros island’s hospitality
The best traditional stays in Greece to experience the local hospitality
TheHotelTrotter.com is curated by greek journalist and fanatic hotel lover Eleni Stasinopoulou. With the eye of a fashion and lifestyle editor, Eleni hopes to inspire all connoisseurs of traveling, focusing on stylish hotel moments around the globe.
