The House
Welcome to Hotel Margarita!
The house was built in 1840 by Nicolas Staïs, member of one of the aristocratic families of Kythira. The Hotel Margarita is a typical patrician house, like the other patrician houses situated on the main street of Chora and around the Kastro (Castle). In 1922, the house became the seat of the Diocese of Kythira and Antikythira, and later on a branch of the National Bank of Greece. The Staïs family eventually sold this elegant home. In 1990, after a complete renovation, the house was turned into the Margarita Hotel.
Built in the heart of Chora, the capital of the island, the Hotel Margarita is situated in a delightful labyrinth of flowery alleys. The hotel's imposing size contrasts with the village's small white houses. Its clean lines, white walls and blue windows exude charm and serenity.
The two hotel terraces overlook the sea and surrounding countryside, as well as the old Venetian fortress, the Kastro. On our terraces, you can enjoy a breakfast buffet as well as refreshments during the day or evening.
Leaving the hotel, you instantly find yourself in the heart of Chora. The capital of the island is built perfectly balanced between two hill peaks. The main street, only a few meters from the hotel reception, will lead you directly to the great fortress of Chora, where you can admire a breathtaking view of Kapsali Bay and the Aegean Sea. On fine days, you can clearly distinguish the islands of Antikythira and Crete.
A stroll in Chora invites you to discover more about the particular way of life of Kythira, characterized by a combination of Greek and Italian influences.
Since 2002, the Hotel Margarita is run by two Frenchmen, Francois Crépeaux and Frédéric Ferrière.
The Staïs Family
The Staïs family is among the oldest patrician families of Kythira. Of Byzantine origin, the family name appears rather early in the history of the island. For example, the family is mentioned in the "Council of Cerigo nobles", a 1753 Venetian document, according to which the Staïs family is ranked fourth among the aristocratic families of Kythira.
In the nineteenth century, the Staïs family assumes high office. The British High Commissioner appoints Valerios Staïs delegate of the island of Kythira at the Ionian Islands Government Provisional Council. The Ionian Islands' Government met in 1817 in Corfu to establish a Constitution for the seven Ionian Islands. After the attachment of the Heptanese to Greece in 1864, Nicolas Staïs - son of Valerios Staïs - became the first Mayor of Kythira. According to family tradition, all the Staïs boys would pursue a career in medicine or law.
The Staïs family figures prominently in the history of Greece. Spiridon Staïs (1858-1931), served as minister several times between 1900 and 1922.
For the Hotel Margarita, the most important personality is undoubtedly Valerios Staïs.
He was born in 1857 in the house which later became the Hotel Margarita. First in Athens and then in Bonn, he studied medicine, fulfilling the family tradition that all sons should become either lawyers or doctors. Nevertheless, his encounter with the German archaeologist Reinhard Kekule was a catalyst for the young man's vocation and path through life. Unbeknownst to his father, he abandoned medicine in favour of archaeology. He studied at the Universities of Berlin, Göttingen and Halle from whence he graduated in 1885. Family legend has it that upon his return to Kythira, the young man's father waited for him at the dock. No sooner did Valerios reveal the truth than his father ordered him to leave the island immediately. Valerios Staïs then sailed for Athens.
That same year Valerios Staïs was appointed Inspector of Antiquities of Argolis and Corinth. This was the beginning of his career. His work led him to major excavation sites including Marathon, Rhamnus, Dimini, Aegina and Cape Sounion. In 1900, he participated in research of the famous Antikythira mechanism, the only archaeological piece of its kind that has been discovered so far.
Devoted to his career, Valerios Staïs became director of the Archaeological Museum of Athens. He died in 1923.
