At the sublime junction where the black volcanic sand meets the midnight blue waters of the Aegean Sea, one finds Istoria, a 12-suite retreat on Perivolos Beach. Located in the pristine eastern side of Santorini that is still left undisturbed by the visiting crowds, the property is just 10km from the port and 13km from the airport. A new spin on the Greek beachside hotel, Istoria’s design is an eclectic impression of Mediterranean influences. Decorative accents yield memories of times past; oversized stone pots nod to the island’s extensive history, while its abundant natural bounty is featured in the shape of volcanic stone, black Santorini sand and an environment of native trees and plants, such as ancient olive trees, herbs and aloe. Inspired by storytelling and deriving its name from the Greek word ‘ιστορία,’ which means story. The 12 guestrooms ,each with a name in a different language, which translates to the word ‘story’,are impressively arched towards the privacy of individual terraces, leading, in most cases, to private outdoor hot tubs and pools.