At Akrotiri village exists one of the
most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean Sea and one of the most
famous archaeological sites in Greece. According to the scientists, Akrotiri
ancient town was first inhabited during the 4 millennium B.C. however the
archaeological findings are positioned to belong from the "early to the
middle and bronze age" which means the 20th to the 17th centuries B.C.
Akrotiri is been scientifically recognized as being one of the main cities of
the Mediterranean Sea, as an important port, trading goods to Crete, Aegean
islands and all over the Mediterranean Sea. According to archaeologists,
ancient Akrotiri's artifacts and pieces of art witness a high developed
settlement with clear social stratification, advanced buildings high level town
planning, and great works of art. Akrotiri's wall paintings especially the
better salvaged "the lilies wall painting" the "boxers" and
"the blue monkeys" are characterized to be masterpieces of art of
their times providing the scientist with important information of the ancient
everyday living and culture. Those paintings are considered to decorate the
king's salon (kind of an official sitting room) and the queen’s personal rooms.
Of the most famous and archaeologically valuable
frescoes of "Akrotiri ancient town" are, the "Saffron
Gatherers" who offer their crocus-stamens to a seated lady perhaps a
goddess, the "two antelopes" painted with a kind of confident, flowing,
decorative and calligraphic line, "the fisherman" with his double
strings of fish strung by their gills, and the flotilla of pleasure boats,
accompanied by leaping dolphins, where ladies take their ease in the shade of
light canopies. Famous for their colours and technique are the frescoes of the
"blue monkeys" as well as the "two boxers" showing two
young children at the age of 15 playing box wearing elaborate gloves.
The complete collection of the above frescoes has been
very carefully conserved and is kept in the "Museum of Prehistoric
Thera" however not yet all of them exposed to the public. Some of the
paintings, well preserved, are exhibited at the "Museum of Prehistoric
Thera" open to the public to see. However, the visitor can see the
reproductions of the entire collection of ancient Akrotiri town wall paintings
at "Santozeum" Museum at Fira close to the cable car. Akrotiri
archaeological site was open to the public from the middle '70's until the
summer of 2005 when the site closed because of the collapsing of a part of the
new roof. The archaeological site is programmed to open again to the public the
summer of 2012 renovated in a way to be easy to the visitors to enjoy their
walk in the streets of the prehistoric town.
At Akrotiri village a visitor can find many quiet
beaches with clean blue waters, taverns with fresh fish and traditional food,
brand new luxury hotels, and lot enough places to walk by the sea or take
pictures with the view of Caldera.
A nice way to drive with your car is the road to
Akrotiri village and Faros which is the southernmost point of the island where
the traditional old lighthouse is located.
From that point you can see Crete and the small
islands around Santorini. The spot is ideal to take pictures since many of the worldwide
famous pictures of Santorini have been taken from that place. Reaching the
lighthouse you can see its beautiful building, build at the edge of the cliffs,
and if you are lucky it's possible to detect the "Indian face"! What
is this? It's a human profile carved on the rocks above the "white
beach" which you can see from that spot...
On your way to the lighthouse, you can find the
"White Beach" which is covered with white sand, the last layer of
soil the Volcano's ancient eruption threw on the island. White beach is a
beautiful and quiet one, just perfect for relaxation and a short getaway from
the everyday living.
One of the most popular beaches of the island is
located at Akrotiri and its called the "Red beach" just because the
mountain above it is red, due to the materials (stones, ash etc) the Volcano
fired on the island. To get to the "Red beach" you have to leave your
car at the closest parking and take an easy going 5 min narrow path on foot.
The sure thing is you haven't see a place like this before! During August the
beach is almost crowded but you still can find a place to lay your towel!
According to the history, Akrotiri is the only place
on earth where the famous for its colour and special characteristics flower of
"crocus" grows. The flower was used by the ancient inhabitants to
colour their clothes, for painting and spicing their food with the
"saffron" witch is extracted from that flower. The use of saffron in
Minoan and Classical Greece was widespread as a flavouring, pigment, as a scent
and also as an aphrodisiac.
Very close to the prehistoric town of Akrotiri and at
the seafront you can find many taverns with original Greek kitchen and fresh
fish.
In winter Akrotiri turns to a quiet village as most of
the hotels are closed and the routine moves into farming the vineyards. A nice
time of the year to visit Akrotiri is the Spring and Autumn when the weather is
mild and the island less crowded.
Emborio is the largest village on the southeast side of the island according to
the recent statistics (2011) with it's population counting 4.000 people all
year long.
Most of its residents during the summer months are
dealing with tourism while during the winter they are farming their land.
Emborio also has an appreciable number of economic migrants from the Balkan
countries who are also working in tourism and farm work.
According to some, the village took its name from the
development of commerce (Emborio in Greek means "commercial") since
some years ago, it was the only village in the southern Santorini that had
small markets and shops to cover the people's needs. According to others the
name is likely to be paraphrased from the old days of Germans saying
"neoumpourgk" meaning the castle, located in downtown old traditional
village.
The centre of the village is worth walking and taking
pictures because of the small old houses build very close to one another for
safety reasons during the Venetian era. Nowadays, many people, mostly young and
not only locals, took the decision to restore them and equip them with all
modern facilities according to follow a new lifestyle close to the nature,
raising up their children in a more friendly environment and ecological way of
living. The idea of giving back life to the old settlement began by the decade
of 2000 and since then many houses have been restored and inhabited all year
long.
At that area a visitor can find many small and
beautiful houses to rent or buy. The area has many advantages, as it is close
(however by car) to the beautiful beach of Perisa and quiet since inside the
traditional village you can't go by car. Houses are renovated with great style
in most of the cases making the spot a wonderful selection for living during
the summer holidays.
At that area you can visit the old castle of the village
called "Goulas" and walk the around place with the cute houses as
well as feeling like being a part of a picturesque settlement. At that area you
can visit the beautiful church of "St. Spyridonas" located on a spot
overlooking the entire village and the southeastern side of the island. At
"St. Spyridonas" yard an open theater local’s use to present cultural
events and school festivals during spring and summer time.
Most locals living at Emborio make good quality wine
to cover their family needs during the year, as well as selling some to the
interested buyers. In combination with the wine many local families make good quality
homemade honey, which you can find by asking them! Last years the development
of beekeeping is beginning to create its own tradition, since the product has
very good quality.
An interesting and beautiful area to visit at Emporio
is the hill of "Gavrilos" with its eight traditional windmills that
were active up to late 70's. Last years under considerable efforts the local
community is trying to renovate them resulting in creating another worth to
visit and learn about the local industrial history, spot on the island. Besides
the fact that some of the windmills are partly ruined the whole area is very
worth to visit as it has wonderful view to all southern part of the island.
At the end of the road to "Gavrilos" you
will find the small beautiful church of "Prophet Elias" where you can
rest at its' yards and enjoy the view of Perisa. A nice time to visit the area
is at the afternoon when the sun slows down so you will have the chance to
enjoy the sunset and take pictures while walking this romantic place.
Emborio is close to the popular beach of
"Perisa" which extends along several kilometres of black sand and
during the summertime attracts many young people for swimming, enjoy the water
sports, and visit the beach bars, as well as families for more relaxed
vacations.
Exo Gonia is small and peaceful villages close to Kamari build on the backside of
"Pyrgos" mountain. Exo Gonia is populated all year long and it has
beautiful houses viewing Kamari.
The village suffered greatly from the 1956 earthquake
and most of it's residents left it to settle to the seaside place of Kamari.
Before the earthquake of 1956 Exo Gonia was one of the most active and
populated villages, with many wineries from which nowadays only 3 are still
active.
"Kanava Roussos" is operating since 1836 and
visitors can taste some of the most famous Santorini wines as well as
"Kanava Roussos vinsanto" which have won many domestic and
international wine competitions.
"Kanava Argyrou" is operating since 1903 and
it's worldwide famous because of it's exports to Europe and USA. "Kanava
Argyrou" offers the visitor wine tasting tours during the summer months.
"Art Space" combines a contemporary art
exhibition with a renovated winery, at the caves the old winery worked from
1860 up to 1960. All areas and caves are worth visiting for their special
architecture according to its art exhibitions. The winery also offers its
visitors wine tasting tours during the summer months.
Exo Gonia is a beautiful village characterized by the
contrast between the new and the old houses still existing. A good idea is to
walk the small streets inside the traditional village, where you can see the
old houses beautifully renovated in most cases.
In the centre of the village you will find prety
taverns and enjoy dinner or appetizers with the view of Kamari. The parish
church of Exo Gonia is "Saint Charalambos" located on a beautiful
spot on the main street of the village. The church is the only one on the
island build in a "domed basilica" style with rd roof tiles.
Fira and Firostefani are of the most beautiful parts of the island and for sure the most
famous and photographed. Fira is Santorini's town and Firostefani is the expansion of the town on its north side lengthwise and
up on the caldera. A big part of the settlement as well as the most famous and
popular one, is build over the caldera cliffs, where you can find many houses
and hotels. Its is very worth to mention that most of those buildings were
build dozens years ago and probably well before the beginning of last century,
and they have been gradually renovated to be used as homes or hotels.
Concerning the questions about their safety, we should say that all caldera
buildings are very safe and earthquake resistant constructions, since they are
build not only over but into the calderas cliffs, which makes them models of
antiseismic structures. Besides the technique of the constructions, another
important element of the safety of those buildings is that calderas cliffs are
made of a specific material thrown by the volcano's explosion, which consisted
big amounts of hard metals, which makes them harder than any other building
construction.
In order to those that arrive to Santorini by ferry,
the caldera’s landscape with the houses built on the cliffs, is one of the most
impressive Santorini’s sceneries, that remains etched in the memory of the
visitors.
At Fira and Firostefani you will find dozens of hotels
to stay as well as coffee shops and restaurants of a very good quality service,
where you can enjoy your drink or dinner from early to late in the afternoon.
Afternoon is a suggested time for your walk at Fira and Firostefani, as you can
enjoy the view of the caldera during the sunshine. The experience of an evening
walk across the caldera during the sunshine will be one of the best memories to
take with from Santorini.
As it is well known, Santorini's sunset, with the view
of the sun going down, is one of the world's most popular touristic and
destination icons.
But, apart from the beauty and uniqueness of the
landscape, at Fira, there are many interesting things to see and do. Fira is
indeed the capital of Santorini and the place that hits the commercial and
business heart of the island with hundreds of restaurants, coffee shops and
commercial interest stores. At Fira you will be able to choose to experience..
what attracts your appetite, as you can find, from restaurants offering
traditional local dishes, to the most modern and sophisticated gourmet. Many of
those restaurants are greatly successful and are worldwide known for their quality
and creativity. Most of Santorini's restaurants have written their own history,
having won awards at domestic and international contests for the quality and
the tastes they create. Resulting from that, and under many years of hard work
and leadership, Fira, has managed to be a destination of many visitors
interested in collecting tasty experiences!
Regarding the cafes of the caldera area, most of them
are fairly high standard, offering visitors the possibility to enjoy their
drink or the snacks with the breathtaking view of the volcano.. In addition to
that, it is very likely during your walk or rest at the cafes, to meet
celebrities, enjoying their summer vacations on the island, as Santorini is one
of the most popular destinations between many members of the domestic and
international "star system".
Fira port is one of the favourite destinations of the
cruise ships over the Mediterranean Sea, with many vessels arriving everyday
throughout the duration of the summertime. It is then when the city's streets
are filled with people enjoying their walks, buying goods and tasting the
flavours of the city. It is estimated that an average of more than a thousand,
small and large cruise ships and touristic ships arrive each summer at Fira
bay, disembarking millions of visitors, even for a few hours, to enjoy the
island's beauty.
Fira have a long history in terms of trade of gold and
other precious metals and jewels, as for many years was in the top of the
preferences of domestic and international brands of jewellery, who kept shops
in Fira, featuring unique pieces of aesthetic and economic value. The industry
flourished for more than 20 years in Santorini managing to attract visitors
from all over the world who visited the island to make their purchases in gold.
Nowadays at t Fira you will have the chance to see and
possibly select the items you like between a great variety of jewellery and
gold, as Fira have an established tradition on that market. At Fira gold and
jewellery market you can find items from hand made and affordable ones, to the
most expensive and valuable pieces of art. Fira gold and jewellery market is
being established for more than 30 years and this is the reason why a main town
street is been named that way, as "the street of gold." Cruise boat passengers
find the market very attractive and take benefit of its good prices as well as
having the opportunity to see gathered some of the most well known brands of
jewellery worldwide. The interest of the visitors seems to be renewed by
handmade jewels decorated with local volcanic stones, offered in very
affordable prices.
Fira had and continue to have lively nightlife with
clubs and music for all tastes. Fira dominate the nightlife of Santorini, as
you can choose between Greek music and international mainstream music clubs,
rock clubs and bars, music cafes to enjoy your drink listening to the music you
like or even dance. Fira clubs and nightlife are located inside the streets of
the centre of the town as well as some clubs and bars are located over the
caldera offering a great night view of the Aegean Sea and the volcano. Walking
Fira streets at night, visitors have a great variety of selections, from big
open air clubs that can accommodate hundreds of people, to smaller ones that in
some cases are cave domes. Concerning the music, at Fira visitors are able to
listen to whatever they like, from Greek to international pop or rock music.
Fira was and still is a famous holiday destination for
people wanting to have fun during the nigh time, as well as for many young
wanting to experience an interesting night life. Some of Fira summer clubs are
considered to be of the most advanced and stylish all over Greece, concerning
their music and atmosphere. On several occasions during the summer time Fira
town clubs host popular Greek and European DJ's or bands performing live.
During the summer months clubs at Fira open at 10:00 p.m. until very late at
night.
Fira have managed to create a good tradition and fame
in hosting conventions, as the last twenty years the convention centres and
hotels of the town have successfully host many and with a large number of
participants, conventions from all over the world. Fira town have the
infrastructure necessary to cover the needs of the most demanding customers.
Santorini is well worldwide known as the only island in its region having the
standards to host major conferences and meetings. Concerning to the opinions of
some of the ones that have already participated in conventions that have taken
place on the island, Santorini is an ideal place for such occasions.
For the ones being interested, on the internet are
easy to find many agencies offering full services in organising a successful
convention in Santorini, combined with some days of vacation and island -
exploring tours.
Firostefani is considered to be Fira's suburb, as
being the natural northern continuation of the town, along the caldera. Like
Fira, at Firostefani are located some of the best quality and services hotels
and restaurants as well as some of the most beautiful houses on the island.
Like Fira, one of the nicest things to do during your stay at Firostefani is to
walk its streets alongside the caldera. A nice time for your walk is during the
sunset when the scenery of the caldera is very beautiful.
A good idea is to walk the streets and alleys along
the caldera from Fira to Firostefani, as the route, proposed by locals and
visitors who have enjoyed the experience, is one of the most beautiful on the
island. At Firostefani you can find high quality restaurants to enjoy your meal
as well as many stores selling beautiful handmade items, as jewels and
souvenirs.
Interesting places to visit in Fira are the two
archaeological museums. The "Museum of Prehistoric Thera" at the
entrance of the city, where you can see some of the famous antique frescoes
found in the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri and important objects from the
Neolithic to the Late Archaic Period. The "Archaeological Museum"
located in the city centre, contains objects and statues from the Archaic, Roman,
Hellenistic and Geometric period, found in several excavations in Santorini.
The "Santozeum" Museum is found in the city
centre in a very pretty location on the caldera, housed in the restored
"Mansion of Nomikos family". At "Santozeum" Museum visitors
are able to see the complete collection of the reproductions of the
«Prehistoric town of Akrotiri» frescoes, since most of the original ones are
not exposed to an archaeological museum. The collection, before being exposed
at Santozeum museum, was presented to the public since 1998, hosted at
"Nomikos Conference Centre" halls where it was visited by thousands
of people every year. The collection presents more than 34 frescoes or parts of
the frescoes in loyal reproductions, which have been created in France.
Concerning the Museums at Fira you can visit the
"Museum Hall Gyzi" as a part of the Cultural Centre "Megaro
Gyzi" which operates by the Catholic Diocese of Thira. The museum hosts
old maps and engravings of the island, manuscripts, and photographs from the
old days, old world costumes and paintings. Each August in the same halls, take
place cultural events and music festivals with concerts of young Greek
musicians, visual art events, exhibitions of paintings and engravings, book
presentations, etc.
Kontohori is a suburb of Fira, at the southern side of
the town, where are located most of the houses of the locals living or working
at Fira. The area and its buildings have been greatly expanded the last years
to cover the needs of residents, most of them working in tourism business.
Kontohori is a nice and easy place to walk and see the architecture of most of
the new build buildings and admire their beautiful gardens. Most of Kontohori
buildings have a great view to the eastern side of the island.
At Kontohori you can visit the "Folklore Museum
Lignos" created on 1861 where you can see many old items used by the
island inhabitants in the beginning of the last century, as well as a large
collection of historical books about Santorini, old maps, documents, engravings
and other artefacts revealing the story of the island.
At the entrance of the city is located the most
popular and with a rich history cultural centre on the island, the
"Bellonio Cultural Centre", founded on 1994. Since then, the
"Bellonio Cultural Centre" hosts during all year long most of the
events of the local student community as well as hosting group or individual
exhibitions of the fine arts. "Bellonio Cultural Centre" also has the
largest library on the island and one of the most important all over Greece. At
"Bellonio Cultural Centre" operates a lending library, the only one
on the island which has recently become full digital giving the change to all
reading lovers to explore its collection. "Bellonio Cultural Centre"
also operates as a convention hall and is open to visit all year long.
The most well known congress centre on the island is
"Nomikos Conference Centre" located in a beautiful area over the
caldera cliffs. "Nomikos Conference Centre" is fully equipped to host
to the most demanding and with a large number of participants conventions,
offering convention cervices combined with the great view of the volcano.
Fira's Orthodox Cathedral is named
"Ypapanti" (the word means the dedication of the Virgin Mary to the
God, when she was a child) and is located in one of the most busy and lively
spots on the island, in the centre of the town. The Church is one of the most
beautiful on the island and of the richest concerning its hagiography and
interior decoration. The church is one of the oldest buildings in town, build
during the middle of 1800, in the centre of the old town, over the caldera,
directly opposite to the volcano. The church was damaged by the 1956 earthquake
and was repaired some years later, becoming one of the most beautiful buildings
in town.
Fira town hosts the Catholic community on the island
and the Catholic diocese, which is the church of "Saint John the
Baptist". On the same area is found the Monastery of the Dominican nuns
which is accessible to visit at specific hours every day. Instead of visiting
the Monastery of the Dominican nuns, visitors can visit the church of the
Monastery which is open every day during its service. The liturgies of the
church are something unique to see and listen since chants and psalms are sung
by an excellent women's choir.
Fira is a worldwide known town very interesting and
worth to visit for its amazing natural beauty according to its history and
present.
Oia (called Ia) is located in a magnificent setting over the caldera cliffs and besides
its magnificent view, offers its visitors top quality accommodation services
and restaurants. Oia is been said to have the most beautiful sunset on the
world, and this is one of the reasons Oia is worldwide famous and one of the
“must go” places on earth, according to the most popular travel magazines.
Oia is located on the highest northern side of the
island and it is famous for its spectacular amazing sunset. Oia, because of the
high aesthetic of its natural environment and its quality services, has managed
to attract some of the richest people on earth, who prefer the village for
their stay during their summer vacation. At Oia don’t be surprised to meet
internationally famous show business stars and politicians relaxing at its
terraces and balconies, or having their evening walk in the village’s small
streets. Most of Oia’s houses and hotels are build on caldera’s cliffs offering
an amazing view to the volcano and the Aegean Sea offering their visitors the
change to enjoy relaxing holidays in full privacy. Oia is been populated by
about 300 people during the winter time and more than 10.000 people during the
summer months, when the hotels are open.
Oia is considered to be the artistic centre of the
island since you can find many art galleries, cute shops selling handicrafts,
souvenirs, jewellery etc. During the summer months local and European artists
present their work in individual or group exhibitions, hosted at Oia's
galleries.
Talking about Oia we have to say that for more than 30
years there were people with whom ideas, suggestions and care on issues like
tourism, architecture, culture, style etc, managed to create the proper
conditions for making Oia a model of housing and tourist development.
Oia has a range of infrastructure and services, both
public and private, such as preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, a
desalination plant producing hundreds of cubic meters of drinking water per
day, and drainage under the whole settlement. Oia is also the only village on
the island that has managed the excavation of the electricity cables, to
protect and highlight its traditional architecture and view.
One of the most beautiful places to walk at Oia is its
marble footpath lengthwise the caldera where you can enjoy the view and see the
beautiful things sold by the cute and small shops located over the street. One
of the most photographed places at Oia is its ancient "Castle" at the
end of the marble footpath, where the whole setting is wonderful and this is
the reason why some of the most popular Greek and foreign film productions have
shot many of their scenes there. Reaching the ruins of the castle you will be
able to see the volcano and the Aegean Sea, from a point of view you will never
forget.. Thousands of visitors to Oia every summer watch the sun setting from
that point while they try to capture the moment with their cameras. Perched on
rooftops and courtyards, with cameras or with a glass of wine in hand, guests
celebrate daily up to the last minute Oia's sunset, agreeing with everybody who
has seen it before that is one of the "musts" on the island...
Amoudi is one of Oias beaches as well as being a small
port for the fish boats. Amoudi is right under the settlement of Oia, at the
inner side of the island where you can go by car or on foot. From that port
there are daily scheduled routes to Thirasia, while it is a good idea to spend
some hours on the beautiful small island so close to Santorini. At Amoudi you
can find many taverns and restaurants with fresh fish and local kitchen.
Oia has many beaches for swimming located on the on
the eastern side of the island, all of them with clean blue waters, easily
accessible by car. The most known beaches of Oia are Baxedes, Koloumbos and
Pori, as well as Amoudi and Armeni located in the inner side of the island at
caldera.
A pretty settlement close to Oia, on the eastern side
of the island, is "Finikia". The settlement is composed by many small
houses, most of them being restored the last years to cover the needs of the
locals as well as the visitors. Walking at "Finikia" it will be easy
to feel a sense of the past because of the architecture of the traditional
houses build close to one another. From "Finikia" you can admire the
eastern beaches of Oia and its green vineyards, while there is a variety of a
path to walk leading to Oia's beaches or the centre of the village. Walking the
paths of Oia is a very beautiful experience, especially during the spring. On
the northeast side of Oia you can drive or walk through the lush green
vineyards that make very good quality wines.
A nice way to drive with your car is from Fira to Oia
(and backwards) along the east coast of the island where you can drive
lengthwise the beaches of Baxedes, Paradisos, Pori, Koloumbos etc.
At Oia you can visit the "Maritime Museum"
located in a well-kept house in the town centre, where you can learn about
Oia's maritime history. Oia was one of the major ports of the Mediterranean in
the beginning of the 20th century. From Oia's port, Amoudi, were traded big
amounts of Santorini wine to major ports of the Mediterranean Sea and Russia.
Actually, Russia was one of the biggest markets in demanding Santorini's
vinsanto, which was used in churches for the Holy Communion. Oia's maritime
history is very rich and most of the village's men were working in ships as
captains and sailors, as, some others were working in trading wine business.
This period of economic prosperity and development of Ia lasted up to the
middle of last century, when the old fashioned mast - boats were displaced by
modern diesel-powered ships. Oia was unable to follow the developments, besides
a few families that moved to Athens in order to stay on that business, and
therefore started the decline of the seamanship. However the period of Oia's
maritime development created one of the most beautiful and rich places on the
island with many nice mansions that belonged to captains as well as a whole
settlement of small cave houses located on calderas rocks at the edge of
calderas cliffs. Walking at Oia's small streets it is sure you will meet with
many parts of great maritime Oia's history. Very nice to shot, are the old
captain mansions, some being very beautifully renovated.
At Ia you can also visit another very beautiful
museum, the "Museum of Byzantine and traditional musical
instruments". The museum opened in spring 2010 and is located in the
centre of town. There you will be able to see more than 30 musical instruments
made of wood, similar to those used in ancient Greece and during the Byzantine
period. "Museum of Byzantine and traditional musical instruments" is
the only one in Greece with that theme and exhibits.
One of the most beautiful churches on the island is
"Panagia Platsani" located on the main square of Oia, in the centre
of the village, with a great view of the caldera.
The church has a very beautiful old handmade temple as
well as a rich iconography very worth to see.
The parish church of Oia is the "Saint
George" at the entrance of the village, famous for its rich in decoration
and old handmade icons as well as its temple made in the beginning of 20th
century. "Saint George" church has a big and beautiful garden over
the caldera that you can walk and take pictures, as it also has a big utility
house, mainly used by the local authorities as an exhibition hall.
Both churches, "Panagia Platsani" and
"Saint George" were build and decorated at the beginning of the last
century during the period of Oia's prosperity this why they are both big
churches rich in icons and decoration. The area of Oia has more than 60
churches and chapels, most of them over the caldera with a great view of the
Aegean Sea. Oia is beautiful, distinctive and a very worth to visit and spend
some time or even days place. Oia's beauty will reward you.
Imerovigli is worldwide known as one of the most beautiful places on the world.
Pictures of the village, build over the Caldera, are world famous and well
recognised. Imerovigli is known for its wonderful view of the caldera, for
being built over it, for the luxury hotels and restaurants located on the
caldera, according to the architecture of the buildings being carved in the
rocks having the view of the sea.
The special characteristic of Imerovigli is that most
of the hotels, villas and houses are built on, or carved into the cliffs with
the view of the volcano. Most of them, before turned into hotels or villas,
were houses covering the local’s needs.
Imerovigli houses and hotels have won several prizes
in world architecture contests for their unique shapes and style. Besides
architectural, many international life style magazines have characterize
Imerovigli as a wonderful place to stay.
Imerovigli hotels and villas are preferred by European
and American visitors as well as V.I.P.'s since they offer total privacy according
to their high quality services.
The beautiful village of Imerovigli is been chosen by
several Greek and international VIP's, for having their second vacation homes,
which is something that has given the area the feeling of luxury.
However, Imerovigli hotel as well as home prices are
easily affordable to anyone. Imerovigli has won several prizes at international
contests, as well as being many times nominated as the most beautiful place on
earth. It’s been many years since Santorini and Imerovigli are in the top 10
list of the most preferable destinations in the world.
Imerovigli hotels and villas have also won many
international architecture and design competitions for their unique style and
aesthetic. Imerovigli hosts on its terraces most of the marriages taking place on the island every
summer. The last years Santorini has manage to attract many couples for getting
married on the island because of its wonderful caldera scenery according to the
high quality hotels and the high standard services wedding organizers offer.
Santorini has managed to be one of the favourite worldwide marriage -
destinations. On the terraces of the Imerovigli hotels are taking place most of
the island weddings, because of the view of the natural environment.
Staying at Imerovigli you can relax and enjoy the view
from your balcony, choose one of the high standard restaurants to enjoy your
dinner, or take a walk at the village’s streets. Imerovigli has nice shops
where you can buy posters and handmade paintings, jewellery, clothes,
souvenirs, decorations, and even hand-woven items for your household.
A good idea is to walk the village streets while
viewing the caldera. People of the village are very helpful to give you
information or anything you might need to make your stay better. Imerovigli is
a beautiful and quiet village that knows how to make its guests to relax and
enjoy themselves.
At Imerovigli you can visit the church of "St.
Nicholas" as well as "Skaros" which is a special caldera's rock,
at the edge of the cliffs; where was build of the six Santorini's medieval
castles. To go to "Skaros" you have to walk a 10 min path on the
cliffs. Since you have reached that spot, it's a very good idea to walk
furthermore below "Skaros" to reach the church of "Panagia
Theoskepasti", maybe, one of the most beautiful churches on the island
because of its location on the cliffs. To go to "Panagia
Theoskepasti" you have to walk a 10 min path from "Skaros" but
the scenery and the view will totally compensate you. The view from that spot
is just what you need for an unforgettable shooting. Many movie scenes and
commercials have been shot from that spot. The name of the church means in
Greek "the one totally covered by rocks".
Most of Imerovigli hotels and villas are able to host
visitors all year long, but best time for visit is summertime, from May to
September, where all pools by the caldera are open and the daylight lasts up to
eight o clock. Although, winter time the scenery is different and Imerovigli
turns into a quiet and peaceful village where you can enjoy the piece.
Imerovigli rightly is internationally called as "the balcony of
Santorini".
Kamari or Mesa Gonia (or Episkopi) is one of the most famous touristic villages
build on the island by the seaside. Kamari is a new build village created the
last 20 years to cover the needs of the residents and the visitors, and
nowadays it has become one of the most well organized touristic villages all
over Greece and the Mediterranean.
The catastrophic earthquake on 1956 lead the locals to
move from the village of "Exo Gonia" that suffered by substantial
damages, to a new and safer place that they found close to sea and called
"Kamari". There, they started to build their new houses trying to
make a new beginning in their lives. Years on, just because of its wonderful
beach, "Kamari" became one of the most popular touristic destinations
and settlements on the island. Nowadays at Kamari a visitor can find dozens of
hotels, restaurants, taverns with Greek, local and international cuisine that
serve local wine, as well as gift shops, cinemas etc. Kamari hosts thousands of
visitors every year, mostly groups from Europe, who choose it for a relaxing
and enjoyable week -or more! - of vacation. Kamari is located very close to the
island's international airport.
Kamari beach is fully organised with sun beds,
umbrellas, lifeguards, water sports, while you can find restaurants with all
types of food.
Very close to Kamari -but it's better to go with your
car- you can visit the "ancient Thira" on the top of the mountain
(396 m) above Kamari beach. "Ancient Thira" was another prehistoric
Santorini's town and still you can see the ruins of the entire city with its
palace, the theatre, the gymnasium, the temples of the ancient gods etc.
Besides its archaeological wealth the place is nice to visit because of the
wonderful view to all Kamari area.
In the centre of Kamari on your way to the beach, you
can visit the parish church of "Panagia Myrtydiotissa" with its
beautiful garden and very interesting iconography inside. In the center of the
village, behind the church of "Panagia Myrtydiotissa" it's a nice
idea to walk around the small houses build close to one another by the army
after the 1956 Santorini's earthquake, to cover the needs of the people.
Nowadays these houses are still inhabited and beautifully preserved with the
taste of its owner, each. According to the local recent history the residents
of the houses had to fight for many years the Greek Government who claimed that
the houses belonged to the State, before they finally find their justice.
At the center of the village and its main square you
can find many shops and restaurants to buy beautiful things and taste local
goods. At the center of the village there is also a football field and
playground for children.
At Kamari you can find many interesting shops with
stylish gifts and souvenirs from over the world thatcan impress even the most
cosmopolitan visitors.
An interesting thing to know about Kamari is that very
recently winemakers and farmers decided to grow for the first time large tracts
of land which were fallow while reorganizing their vineyards by planting
thousands of small sprigs of vines in hundreds of acres of land. This decision
and work has given a new very pretty picture to the region, which you will
obviously see.
At Kamari is also worth visiting the church of
"Panagia Episkopi," where you can go with your car. In July and
August, it is very likely to get a tour and learn about the interesting history
of the church, built in the 11th century that was "fallen" in the
conflict between Christians and Catholics who "passed" from the
island on their way for the Crusades .. The church of "Panagia
Episkopi" is the most important Byzantine monument on the island. The
church was built in the late 11th century under the orders the of Emperor
Alexios Komninos, but because of the large property on land around it, had the
misfortune to get engaged in conflicts that followed between Orthodox and
Catholics, culminating for many years Sunday's operation to be carried out from
both sides, first by the Christians and later by Catholics and vice versa,
while over the years the property of the church was many divided and finally
lost. In addition, in 1982, the church had the misfortune to be stolen it’s most
important and valuable icons dating to the 11 and 12 century. But, despite
these significant losses and misfortunes "Panagia Episkopi" is one of
the churches mostly respected by the locals as well as the visitors that admire
its architecture and the important picture of "Virgin Mary" kept in a
canopy for safety reasons. The icon is said to have participated in Christian
festive processions in Constantinople, during the period of the Byzantine
Empire. The church of "Panagia Episkopi" is celebrating every year on
August 15th, being one of the most popular feasts on the island.
At Kamari you will find the 2 Cinemas operating on the
island, the Villagio which is open all year long and Cine Kamari which is an
open air one, showing both all new films.
On the road to Kamari is worth making a stop at the
Winery and the Wine Museum Koutsogiannopoulos family to taste the local wines
in a very sophisticated place, but also to visit the one and only "Wine
Museum" in Greece.
Karterados is one of the biggest and most populated villages on the island, still
growing the last years, since it's very close to Fira, the commercial and
touristic heart of Santorini. Karterados, the last years, is well known for
it's shopping centres and its "island type malls" where you can park
your car and make your shopping. At Karterados shopping centres you can find a
variety of shops as well as coffee shops and restaurants. All stores are open
working hours from 9am to 9pm during the summer time.
Inside the old traditional village you can walk the
narrow streets and take pictures of the new and old houses reminding of the old
days. Karterados is one of the villages with the largest population all year
long as many locals, Greeks and Europeans decide to buy their houses in the
area. Karterados at the past years was famous for its restaurants serving
traditional Greek kitchen, and still is, as some of them still exist.
Karterados has many private churches; maybe more than
100, belonging to locals, being build in most of the cases next to their homes
as a sign of respect and devotion to their "favorite" saint or the
one that have helped them tide over difficult situations. Most of those
churches is easy to visit by asking the locals living near them. Another
characteristic is that they totally differ from one another as they are built
according to the taste of their owners without following a specific
architectural style. Despite their style or size, at Karterados private
churches it is very common to find beautiful hagiography and hand made icons
inside them.
At Karterados village it's nice to walk its narrow
streets and take pictures, or visit its beautiful quiet beaches you can reach
with your car. Karterados beach is in the eastern side of the island and is a
quiet one surrounded by mountains with beautiful geological formations.
Little far from the village, the last years has been
created and operates by a small team of volunteers, an animal shelter for stray
dogs and old mules.The aim of the volunteer members at first is to cover the
animal needs and then to try find new homes for them.
Megalohori is the village that more than all others keeps its traditional style,
considering the houses and the lifestyle of its residents. This is why
Megalohori is preferred by tour operators as a "must see" location on
the island. Megalohori is one of the smallest in population villages however it
combines caldera view and beautiful beaches. Megalohori also has many beautiful
and elegant hotels to stay and enjoy your vacation overlooking the caldera.
Megalohori in Greek means "the big village" and it's said to been
given because of the big areas of the vineyards belonging to the villagers.
However, some others say that the village was named that way because of the
great personalities that have their origin from the village... While visiting
Megalohori you can walk the center of the village and take some interesting
photos of the old houses.
Nice pictures to take with you are the steeples of the
two central churches of the villages, which have also been paint by many
artists. The last years the village has been "discovered" by the
young’s, mostly couples that lived in cities that decided to move to the island
for a better quality of life. Those young mostly are occupied in tourism
business trying to give their "new point of view" on the business,
according to rebranding the island. Some of the young residents of the old
village are writers, artists or cooks that contribute to the islands life and
living.
One very good idea visiting Megalohori is to walk the
easy going path overlooking caldera from the Boutari winery to the old mills
and the church of St. .... .The view from that spot is wonderful, especially
when the weather is mild and it's not windy.
Megalohori produces high quality white and red wine
witch you can find at local wineries as well as asking them if they have
homemade one. A beautiful winery to visit at the centre of the village is
"Gavalas winery" where you can have a wine tasting and relax at it's
beautiful yard. Asking the locals you can buy fresh or sun dried the unique
local small tomatoes that have been certified for their quality and nominated
for their taste.
Although Megalohori is not a village build by the sea,
it has many beautiful and quiet beaches you can easily go by car, as
"Vlyhada" also called as "Santorini's far west" because of
the shape of the mountains, "Marmari" and "Theros beach"
where you can find a nice totally wooden built beach bar.
At Megalohori, besides "Gavalas winery" at
the centre of the village, you can visit the modern building and technology in
winemaking "Boutari" winery and the "Arvanitis canava"
where "canava" means the small wineries many families on the island
have to produce their own wine.
Megalohori has also become the last years "the
heart of pottery" as having around it's area almost all of the pottery
making studios.
Pottery small factories and shops are located on the
same main street very close to one another, so you can visit them all and
admire handmade items of high artistic value.
Sights: The entire village with the traditional old
houses and caves that have been restored. The beautiful steeples (the old the
bell towers) of the churches "Panagia" and "Agioi
Anargyroi" in the centre of the old village. The chapels and the old mills
overlooking caldera.
The Caldera beaches you can only go on foot ,walking a
path down the caldera's cliffs, or by boat, the restaurants at the central
square of the village that combine elegance with simplicity.
Mesaria is
located almost in the middle of Santorini, and its name in Greek means
"middle village". During the past years Mesaria was one of the most
populated villages with most of its people working as farmers, growing the
local type cherry tomatoes and grapes. Mesaria also had factories that
elaborated and package tomato puree as well as factories manufacturing clothes,
were many people were working in the past. Nowadays, you can still see the old
buildings most of them abandoned but still interesting to take some pictures.
The traditional village with the old mansions and factories is located in the
centre of Mesaria and you can easily walk it as no cars can access its small
streets. Walking the traditional village, well preserved in a big part of it,
and try to learn its history, is of the most interesting things to do at
Mesaria. Inside the old settlement you will see old type houses, most of them
inhabited all year long, as well as "canavas" (the cave houses) build
very close to one another. Actually this architectural style surprises the
visitors, by how close the houses are built. Besides the old type houses, some
being renovated, inside the traditional
village you will see many small private churches, with its own style each,
dedicated to the memory of a different saint. Most of those churches are build
inside the courtyards of the houses, however its very easy to see and access
them.
The parish of Mesaria is the imposing church of
"Agios Dimitrios" located on a hill in the centre of the village and
it's worth visiting to admire the architecture and the rich interior decor.
From the churchyard you can get a very good view of the entire settlement and
the architecture of its houses, built close to one another, most of which being
very tastefully restored. Mesaria was and still is one of the most populous
villages all year long. Mesaria also was and still is one of the villages
developed in trade, with several shops meeting people's needs. In the past
Mesaria's market was one of the most robust and long range market places on the
island.
Mesaria beaches stretch on the eastern side of the
island and you can reach them easily following the main street that goes to the
airport. Mesaria also has its own caldera that you can visit in the middle of
the road "Fira - Pyrgos". There you can find very beautiful, stylish
and all comforts hotels overlooking the caldera.
Mesaria still manages to keep the interest and love of
its residents and visitors, which, in several cases, have bought new or
renovated antique houses, to spend their summer holidays.
Nice places you can visit in the area are the
renovated mansions "Argyrou" and "Markezinis" that operate,
the first one as of the most interesting museums on the island, with preserved
the entire of its interior as well as its old handmade furniture and kitchen
area and the second one as a luxury hotel.
Perisa and Perivolos are the largest and the most popular (considering Kamari) beaches of
Santorini. Perisa and Perivolos are stretching lengthwise a coast line of more than 30km.
Perisa is not considered to be an autonomous village,
as being the seafront of Emborio. Perisa started to get its fame by the end of
70's when the visitors were discovering the island, finding at Perisa a
wonderful and quiet (then..!) place for swimming and enjoying the nature with
its black sand. Since then, every summer Perisa is becoming one of the most
popular spots on the island while it gives its visitors many choices, from
swimming in the clean blue waters, to taste the very good quality seafood and
international kitchen, to do water sports, massage, horseback riding, buy good
quality leather goods, or walking and do bicycling by the seaside. Perisa is
also an ideal place to spend your evening and night time as all beach bars
offer full menus and cocktails according to presenting live music concerts,
especially during July and August.
Along Perisa and Perivolos you can find stylish beach
bars offering refreshments, coffees, juices, cocktails, snaks, relaxing music,
wireless internet, as well as taverns with fresh local fish. Most restaurants
and beach bars are serving snacks and juices on the beach, giving visitors the
opportunity to enjoy staying by the sea while having their occasional snacks.
During the summer months are very often taking place
on the beach, "beach volley tournaments" and "beach soccer
tournaments" in which you can participate for free.
Lying at Perisa and Perivolos you can benefit from
masseurs offering their services like massage and relaxation exercises, a
choice that seems to be preferred by more and more visitors every summer.
At Perisa and Perivolos you can also find teams of
professionals offering you the chance to do various water sports like jet
skiing or fly a balloon over the sea, in full safety. Besides the water sports
at Perisa and Perivolos you can find teams of professionals offering you the
possibility to take lessons or make dives at several sea areas around the
island, in full safety.
At Perisa you can visit is the "Minerals and
Fossils Museum" located at the main square of the beach settlement. There
you can learn about the island's geological history and see some of its
remarkable rocks. Next to the museum you can visit the church of the "Holy
Cross" which is one of the biggest and most beautiful decorated churches
of the island. Close to that square and just below the mountain you can see the
remaining ruins of the basilica of "St. Irene's" a church build on
the 6th century. The church is rumoured that named the island (Santa Irene to
Santorini).
Perisa and Perivolos -as well as Kamari- are the most
well organised beaches of Santorini with clean deep waters offering their
visitors everything they might need for a relaxing and tasty vacation.
Pyrgos and particularly the traditional village, is built on the foothills of
the homonymous mountain named «Profitis Ilias».
As a result of that from any point of the settlement a visitor can have
a different view of the island.
The basic characteristic of the old - traditional
village is that is built on a defensive settlement patterns as a result of the
Venetian era, with the castle on the top, of which a big part still survives,
and the houses build around it close to one another for safety reasons. Those
houses are nowadays beautifully renovated and are still inhabited by locals. At
that area, in the heart of the old town, you can surely enjoy your walk in the
narrow streets and admire the beautiful view of the island. A nice
characteristic is that in every turn you will have the possibility to have a
different look of the island, overlooking Fira town, Mesaria, Megalohori,
Kamari the southern beaches and Oia.
During your walk in the streets of the old village you
will find very beautiful little "coffee" shops and small stores with
hand made crafts, as well as many small churches of a different architecture
style each, some of which you will find open to visit. Very nice place to walk
inside the old settlement is its old “Castle” locally called as «Casteli» built
during the Venetian era in order to protect in case of emergency the residents
of the village. Pyrgos Castle is one of the six built on the island during the
Venetian era. Most of those castles are nowadays ruined and under the effort of
the local and State authorities to repair and highlight them. The most
important and fairly well preserved castles that you can see on the island are
«Pyrgos Castle», «Emborio Castle», «Skaros Castle» at Imerovigli and Oia
Castle.
Walking Pyrgos Castle is one of the most interesting
experiences visiting the village.
Reaching the "top" of the traditional
settlement, you will see and you can visit the church of «Xristos» as well as
the churches «Panagia» and the smaller one «Theotokaki», build close to one
another. Those churches are from the oldest on the island with a very rich
iconography and interior decoration. Most of the icons and the hagiographies
have been painted between 1800 and 1850, which makes them precious as well as a
very interesting historical and cultural element for scholars and researchers
of history and the history of Orthodoxy. The wooden handmade temples of both
churches are very old and precious and it’s very worth seeing them. The view
from that spot is very beautiful, as you can see and take photos to all areas
of the island.
The Monastery of the "Profitis Elias" at the
top of the mountain of Pyrgos built in 1711 and renovated recently, is very
worth visiting to discover its unique historical wealth, see its old wooden
handmade temple, its old and very precious icons and hagiography, as well as
its whole rich interior decoration. Right time to visit the Monastery is during
and after the Sunday's operation, which starts at 5 am and ends at 9. During
those hours you will find the monastery open, so you can visit its areas as
well as enjoying walking on the highest point on the island. The road to the
Monastery is easy to drive and lasts up to 10 minutes from Pyrgos village.
During you drive you will have a very beautiful view to the island.
At Pyrgos there are more than 60 churches that
celebrate and are open at least once a year. Some of those feasts take place
during the summer time so you can join them while your stay on the island. The
central square of the village keeps much of its traditional image that you can
see while enjoying your coffee or drink at one of the coffee shops or taking
your dinner at one of the restaurants.
One of the nicest seasons to visit Pyrgos is Easter
time, when many of the local traditional customs are taking place. On Holy
Friday’s night, during the procession of the Epitaph, the young people place
thousands of "lanterns" all over the village, in the courtyards and
on the walls and the whole village lights up, creating an impressive image. The
custom continues the tradition of the old days and in the recent days is
becoming more and more famous, attracting thousands of visitors every year.
Besides the custom with the "lanterns", Pyrgos village keeps many of
the old days Easter traditions that are nice to see.
The vineyard of Pyrgos village is unique since it is
one of the oldest over the Aegean islands and the one located on a higher
altitude than all others on the island. That special characteristic according
to traditional winemaking procedures makes high quality wines, which have been
awarded at international wine contests. Due to being at high altitude, the
harvest at Pyrgos vineyards starts later than all other vineyard on the island,
by the middle of September. The procedure of the harvest is interesting to see
when being on the island at that time. At Pyrgos village, overlooking the
caldera you can visit the very beautiful cooperative winery of "Santo Wines"
where you can enjoy your wine and the view of the caldera in one of its five
level terraces. "Santo Wines" besides its great view all over the
caldera, offers a great variety of local wines that you can taste them all,
through a proper process of wine tasting. At "Santo Wines" you will
be able to taste more that 40 different local wines including some of the most
rare and expensive «Visanto» wines. "Santo Wines" offers also the
possibility to its visitors to tour the winery and learn about the winemaking
process including its history. The winery is operating all year long but it is
open to the public from April to October, all day long, seven days a week.
Pyrgos village holds its residents all year long as
well as hosting many small souvenir and hand made items shops spread all over
the village.
At Pyrgos you can visit the "Collection of images
and religious relics" from the middle of the 20th century
located in the centre of the traditional settlement as well as the «Xrysos
Museum» where you can see objects used in the past, photographs of the old days
Santorini and learn about the traditional ways of winemaking and canning the
local cherry tomato.
The village of Vothonas is very close to
the village of Mesaria, and it’s very possible for the visitor to consider them
as one. Actually we are talking about two different villages with their own
special characteristics each.
The centre of Vothonas is on the main road that
crosses the village, although hotels and houses are spread in a large area
around its centre. Vothonas is on the eastern side of the island and has nice,
clean and organised beaches as «Agia Paraskeyi» and «Monolithos» where you can
swim and eat at the local restaurants.
A good thing a visitor can do at Vothonas is to walk
and take pictures of the traditional village. There, a visitor can see the old
houses built according to the traditional architecture of Santorini, witch
means that most of them are carved in the rocks.
At Vothonas you can visit the church of "Agia
Anna" with the beautiful mosaic on its ground and yards and the church of
«Panagia Sergena» witch is famous for being carved in the rocks. The church has
beautiful old and valuable icons and its yearly celebration on the 2nd of
February is an "event to remember" for the locals, because of it's
good home made food and wine given for free to all visitors.
Vourvoulos is one of the less known villages however is one of the most beautiful
and fast developing in the last years. Vourvoulos has many new and all modern
comforts houses, people or even visitors can rent or even buy. Vourvoulos is
located at the northern side of the island, on the way from Fira to Oia, and
it's built on a mountainside that's why it has a beautiful view to the northern
beaches of Kamari and Monolithos.
Vourvoulos is also known for it's all brand new
"mill houses" witch are mill-style round houses equipped with all
modern comforts. Most of those are used as hotels but some are rent for the
summertime to Europeans.
The village is inhabited all year long and it has
anything someone can need to enjoy a peaceful vacation.
Vourvoulos has big areas planted with grapes and
wineries that produce high quality wine. The locals collect the grapes by the
end of August and the winemaking process lasts up to the end of October, when
they open the barrels to taste the new wines. Most of the wineries of the
island let -normally, under request- the visitors to see the winemaking process
witch is unique worldwide. The wine making procedure takes place every
September and October.
The most popular feast of the village is the name day
of "Saint Efstratios" celebrated on December 13th and another famous
church and feast is "Saint George" that according to a myth, helps
the believers to pay off their debts! In fact, some people claim that
"Saint George" helped them in an unexpected way to repay their dues,
so, we have no reason not to believe them..!
