Villa Maria is a listed 19th century neo-classical mansion. Built by a local factory owner in 1873 at the height of Ermoupolis’ prosperity, it is a fine example of the architecture of the period. In restoring it we have preserved all the original features —wooden floors and ceilings, marble bathrooms, decorative mouldings— and used antique furniture to give it a comfortable but authentic feel.
-
Very nice room with amazing view on the port from the balcony ! 
Christian
04/23/2022
Kostas was a brilliant host. He met me on time when arriving on the island. Gave me a good variety of recommendations which I'm very glad I took on road... read more as may not have found them otherwise.
The room was just like the pictures with great views and comfortable living arrangements.
Highly recommended and good value for money.
Nicholas 
Nicholas James
08/23/2019 - While we visited Syros in the “off-season” in December, Kostas ensured we had a wonderful experience with his excellent hospitality including meeting us after we arrived by ferry. His local... read more tips were essential and all excellent - from restaurants to local sites to see. As others have mentioned the location is ideal - close to the town square but quiet on a pedestrian only street. The view from the rooftop terrace was wonderful and relaxing as well. We look forward to coming back during the spring/summer.
Priscilla
12/15/2019 We had a wonderful stay at Kostas/Elisa wonderful 19th century house! Hosts were so kind and nice, always there when needed and ready to help, and full of nice advices... read more about the town and the island.
The house was incredibly elegant and beautiful, very well situated, just above the main, wonderful square of Ermoupoli, but still very quiet.
We falled in love with the house, and also with this incredible city of Ermoupoli.
Would love to come again! 
Chris
09/30/2017 - Une magnifique demeure parfaitement décorée, chaleureuse et agréable, un rooftop parfait pour les petits déjeuners ou plus selon vos envies. Kostas est disponible et très serviable, merveilleux séjour trop... read more court !
Nous reviendrons... 
Sophie
08/13/2018 Our stay at Villa Maria was among one of our very best Airbnb experiences— everything about our stay at Villa Maria was magnificent. The villa itself is comfortable, centrally located... read more close to the port, tons of restaurants, and the swimming area. Our room was beautifully decorated in neoclassical style, true to Syros’ history, and equipped with a private balcony and an AC, which was much appreciated during the few hot days of our stay. Kostas was super generous with his time and gave us excellent recommendations and a map of places to eat and things to do/see while on Syros. We also paid extra for Elisa’s breakfast basket—- packed with her homemade goodies and thoroughly enjoyed them all (they’re delicious!) on the beautiful rooftop terrace overlooking the Aegean. We’re already fantasizing about our return to Villa Maria—- a magical place on an equally magical island. By far the highlight of our Cyclades trip, much more than Mykonos or Santorini. 
Matias
07/23/2018 - Kostas is really a host who goes above and beyond to make his guests feel at home and welcomed. He took the time, a few times, to help us plan... read more out our daily activities based on what we like to do (swimming, hiking, beaching), and he even gave us tips on where to get the best food on the island. The actual space was just phenomenal, the pictures don’t do it justice. There is AC in the room but it wasn’t needed as the windows bring a glorious cross breeze through the room. The bathroom is big with a lovely mounted shower. And the views are amazing! Both at your own little private balcony and at the roof top. We will absolutely be back to this beautiful island of Syros and without a doubt we will contact Kostas to stay in this lovely home again.
Chrissy
06/13/2018 Kostas Stefanou and Elisa Mavropoulou are wonderful people and gracious hosts, and they made our stay at their Villa Maria a sweet, comfortable, intimate, and very warm experience.
Even before... read more we arrived, Kostas’s prompt responses to our email questions revealed how friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive he is. And when we arrived in Syros, his clear directions brought us quickly from the ferry to the main square, where he was waiting with an easy smile and great enthusiasm for our visit.
Ermoupolis spreads out along the port and uphill from it with many pedestrian-only streets and many, many stairs. Kostas guided us along the few streets and up the stone steps to Ydras Street and the bougainvillea-covered entrance to Villa Maria, an old mansion that he and Elisa have beautifully and lovingly restored. After showing us to our room, Kostas sat with us at a table on the second-floor outdoor courtyard and annotated a map of the city and the island, providing what turned out to be fabulous recommendations for places to eat, towns to visit, beaches to swim at, and trails to hike. He is discerning and knows the most special and the best of the best. And Villa Maria is well located, making it very easy to get to any and all of the places of interest in the city, from the opera house to the Vaporia, St. Nicholas to the ferry terminal.
The information and photos on the Villa Maria website accurately describe it and depict the rooms. We loved our stay in Yakinthos (hyacinth). It is one of two rooms—the other is Narkissos (narcissus)—on the second floor that have balconies. The room has high ceilings, and, as the photos reveal, it is very light, spacious, and airy. The bed was comfy and had extra pillows. The balcony offers a commanding, unobstructed 180 degree view out to the port and beyond, where we witnessed dramatic sunrises daily and sat in the early evening with glasses of Assyrtiko to watch the waning colors. On a more mundane note, we were grateful that Yakinthos, unlike many hotel rooms and Airbnbs, had several electrical sockets so we could recharge everything at the same time.
There is a small communal kitchen down the hallway. It has a refrigerator, double burner hot plate, and sink. The kitchen is sufficiently equipped for one to prepare breakfast, lunch, and even a simple dinner. There is cookware, utensils, and in a hall cabinet, glasses, and dishware. It is stocked with bottles of drinking water, coffee, tea, sugar, etc. We shopped for breakfast food on nearby Chiou Street, a charming market street lined with fish, meat, produce, and specialty food markets as well as bakeries, and every morning we had our juice, tea, coffee, and fresh yoghurt outside in the sunny courtyard.
Concerning food, the ground floor of Villa Maria houses a spacious, professional kitchen, where Elisa conducts cooking classes in traditional Greek cuisine. Being foodies who love to cook, we were very interested in what Elisa had to offer. So we met with her at a café to talk about it. She has a winning smile, a bright, energetic, engaging intelligence, a warm personality, and a profound understanding of food in general and traditional dishes from all over Greece. She provided us with a cookbook worth of options for dishes and several sample menus that she could show us how to prepare. Together we put together a menu comprising mezes, salads, sides, a main, and a dessert. We cooked together for most of an afternoon. Not only did she carefully explain what she did and demonstrate how to do it, but also she provided background on ingredients and nutritional value. It was an amazing culinary experience, devoid of food pretension, preciousness, and fussiness; it was surpassed only by the flavors of the various dishes that we had prepared. A truly peak and very personal experience for us. And as a bonus, Elisa provides copies of the recipes.
Ermopoulis is an authentic city. It is not dominated by the tourist industry and has not been scrubbed and polished so as to give every selfie the perfect background. There is impressive architecture and natural beauty, and there is also graffiti, dilapidated buildings, and cats, lots of cats. There is a shipyard and large ships and ferries coming and going and blowing their horns. There is a hustle and bustle of residents going about their daily lives oblivious to tourists. But for us, this is what made the city and Syros a realistic experience, dramatically different from the crowded, “must see” cruise-ship islands. And if one chooses to visit Syros, one could not stay with more generous and welcoming hosts than Kostas and Elisa at their lovely and special Villa Maria. 
Amy
09/23/2019 - The apartment was perfect for our group of four. It was cute and clean and the roof terrace was perfect for enjoying a glass of wine in the evenings. We... read more only stayed two nights but would have liked to stay longer and tried Elisa’s cooking class. There are a lot of stairs up to the apartment and we had large suitcases but we made it happen with a little teamwork and help from Kostas. He gave us some great tips for exploring the town. I would absolutely recommend!
Loren
05/11/2019 Plus:
1) Cleanliness
2) Communication and willingness to help
3) Friendliness
4) Great mattress
5) Awesome balcony view
Minus:
1) You need to climb 157 stairs in total to... read more reach the room from the port, so you have to be fit. However, the view totally deserves it. 
Daniel
08/28/2022 - Perfect apartment in an amazing location. Exactly as described and then some. One of the best Airbnb’s I’ve stayed in. Kostas is a great host who goes out of his... read more way to make sure you have a compfortable stay. Great local tips! Hope to be back again!! Thanks!!!
Matt
11/12/2019 just incredible. villa maria is one of the most beautiful places i’ve stayed and kostas was a wonderful host. i plan on coming back every summer! 
Persis
08/24/2018
