History of The Sea Captain's House

~ 1864 ~

Kapetanospito

Oia / Ia Santorini Greece

Oia and Santorini have a long history connected with the Aegean Sea, our local wines,
international trade, the simple tomato and of course, the focal point
of Santorini - the volcano and it's sea-filled caldera or crater.
Look inside The Sea Captain's House and you will find our island's history.

Santorini's earliest sailors from the 1700's BC are beautifully immortalized
in the colorful Akrotiri wall paintings depicting these Minoan voyagers.



The numerous ruins of 14th and 15th century castles
and village fortifications on the island, tell us of the invading pirate sailors.


Italian sounding names, even that of "Santa Irina" herself, recall the frequently
interrupted reign of Venice over the island.



But by walking through the marble and volcanic stone paths of Oia,
you will find the memories of more recent sailors and their sea captains.


The unique, white cave houses, dug into the cliffs of volcanic pumice and rocks,
were home to the village's sailing crews.


The prosperous sea captains and ship owners, also skillful international traders,
built cliff-top mansions influenced by the architecture they found on their exotic voyages.
Their 18th and 19th century homes were financed by the shipping and trading
of the popular Santorini wine to Russia, Russian wheat to France and
treasured French products onward to Mediterranean and Greek merchants.


Tomatoes, although not traded extensively abroad as the Santorini wines,
were and still remain, unique by growing in the rich volcanic soil without rain.
Receiving moisture only by the heavy night dew or morning fog.
Served fresh, sun dried or in the island's traditional tomato fritters,
they have a powerful flavour despite their small size.


Constantly in view, the Santorini volcano's several heads pop up from the Aegean Sea
in the center of our crescent island. Black, and now thankfully silent, the volcano has
dramatically shaped the land and sea here for thousands of years.

Kapetanospito ~ 1864 ~ The Sea Captain's House was built after the Greek War
of Independence from the Turkish rule. It was completed the same year as the signing
of the new Constitution of Greece. A triangular, marble plaque set in the red stone facade
proudly announces the house's commemorative date and the then owner's initials "S.P.A.".


This is one of only eight homes directly on the Oia caldera that are officially designated
by the Greek Ministry of Culture as examples of traditional architecture and protected for conservation.
The noted architect, Dimitris Philippides in his book "Three Centuries of Architectural Style
- Greek Design and Decoration" refers to it specifically: The "sea captain's house with dark volcanic stone
used for decorative purposes in conjunction with white marble aperture frames for the upper storey;
in contrast, simple painted plaster is used for the veranda and the lower storeys.
This Western-style decoration may have Renaissance roots and is found nowhere else in Greece."

Although not yet documented, the house's external plan was probably brought back proudly
to Oia ( Ia ) by the owner from his many voyages to Renaissance Italy.
The upper facade gives the typical Renaissance illusion of two floors - the lower level having a smooth,
stone-like plaster finish and the upper level faced with hand-cut red stones thrown out from the volcano.
Both levels joined together by six faux pillars cut from 'kokinopetra', the volcanic red stones - with marble-like capitals.
Below - the lower facade's two arched doorways tower over the Courtyard. The arches are outlined with red stones
and supported by pillars faced with the same volcanic stones. The plaster wall is a light earthy yellow,
with a fine, polished patina skillfully crafted - almost a lost art on the island
.

The interior layout incorporated the local Santorini elements: high, cross vaulted ceilings,
walls built from black and red volcanic stones and strong pumice cement, rooms carved into the cliff's rocks
and the traditional window over the outer and inner doorways - perfectly
balanced to the eye yet practical for the purpose of maximum air circulation.


Inside the house, furniture brought back from abroad as well as pieces built to order on the island.
Unique to the sea captain's houses were the wood planked floors, probably
fitted by the same local carpenters who built the sailing ships in the harbor below.


A peaceful house, with it's grand exterior of two terraces - each positioned as
the ship's bow facing directly into the sea.
And a courtyard framed by simple, white walls - filled with midnight stars and the afternoon sun.

Sometime after 1864 - the house was a treasured gift of the sea captain owner
to his daughter as a wedding present - dowry.
Through time - the house's marble plaque was slightly altered to show "S.P.A.F".
The additional 'F' added by another owner.
Unlike Egypt, where the new phero could painlessly rub out all initials and hieroglyphic images
of the previous ruler, usually his own father, - here a high respect and
compliment is given to the original owner and his family.

Santorini's commerce in these years was based on the vine.
The vineyards were just outside Oia ( Ia ) in Baxedes beach and Finikia, the agricultural 'suburbs'.
Often the sea captain had three business locations -
his ship, the home in Oia and the vineyard in Finikia.
The ship was flexible and always ready.
The house in Oia served as the party-centre for family, friends, sailing crew
and new recruits when he was back from the long voyages.
The 'canavas' - the wine cave cellars - of Finikia produced and held his wine.
A smaller version of the canava was also located inside the sea captain's home
for convenience to store his wine and for prestige.

Sea, wine, trade, tomato and the volcano.
Look around Oia and they are all still here - years later.
Come inside the Kapetanospito ~ 1864~ The Sea Captain's House
and we will take you back in time to enjoy these simple treasures.

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