Atlantis is not an ordinary 4-star hotel. The traces of its long and glorious history are not lost in time, as one might think, misguided by its famous name. On the contrary, Atlantis’ history is deeply ingrained in its foundations and unfolds like a fairytale that has all the ingredients of a myth: ingenuity, grandeur, Kings and Queens, drama, downturns and recoveries, but above all, the love of two passionate visionaries, Evangelos P. Nomikos and his wife Loula, for Santorini.
Since 1956, Atlantis not only accommodates Santorini’s VIP visitors -from Kings and Heads of State to Hollywood stars and tycoons-, but it also incarnates the loyalty and love that this extraordinary island has inspired to its most prominent benefactors: the shipping magnate Evangelos P. Nomikos and his wife Loula, who back in the 1950s decided to make a considerable investment on their beloved home island. First, they asked the locals to choose among a hotel or a hospital. To this dilemma, the authorities of Santorini replied that they would prefer a hotel. The die had been cast and in the year 1952, Evangelos and Loula Nomikos commissioned to illustrious Santorinian architect Venetsanos the design and construction of the most glamorous and imposing hotel in the Cyclades.
The staggering height of the investment had been attributed to its construction according to the highest quality standards, guaranteeing that the building would sustain even the most powerful earthquake! Indeed, during the catastrophic earthquake of 1956, Atlantis was one of the island’s few buildings left unscathed, which resulted in its temporary use as a hospital and a public services building.
Since 1956, Atlantis not only accommodates Santorini’s VIP visitors -from Kings and Heads of State to Hollywood stars and tycoons-, but it also incarnates the loyalty and love that this extraordinary island has inspired to its most prominent benefactors: the shipping magnate Evangelos P. Nomikos and his wife Loula, who back in the 1950s decided to make a considerable investment on their beloved home island. First, they asked the locals to choose among a hotel or a hospital. To this dilemma, the authorities of Santorini replied that they would prefer a hotel. The die had been cast and in the year 1952, Evangelos and Loula Nomikos commissioned to illustrious Santorinian architect Venetsanos the design and construction of the most glamorous and imposing hotel in the Cyclades.
The staggering height of the investment had been attributed to its construction according to the highest quality standards, guaranteeing that the building would sustain even the most powerful earthquake! Indeed, during the catastrophic earthquake of 1956, Atlantis was one of the island’s few buildings left unscathed, which resulted in its temporary use as a hospital and a public services building.
