Oia's famous blue domes
Santorini, a spectacular volcanic island, is one of the Greek Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. A mythical, ancient island that endured one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, Santorini feels like no other place on Earth. Here, everything is brighter, from the whitewashed cube-shaped houses to the lapis lazuli coloured sea and the sunsets that light up the caldera. As well as being one of the most romantic and beautiful, there are some unusual and unique elements like the beaches that are made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
A spectacular sunset in Santorini
Summer is a great time to visit the northwest coast of mainland Greece as the weather is always perfect, or so the locals say. But come rain or shine, prepare to be dazzled by charming towns and a volcanic landscape steeped in Greek mythology.
History Zone
Santorini is a collection of five islands floating on the Aegean Sea like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. However, they used to be a single landmass, a walnut-shaped island known as Strongyli (the round one). When Strongyli’s volcano erupted catastrophically around 1650 BC, the island split initially into three separate parts. Together, they form the walls of a massive, fragmented crater enclosing a central lagoon that was created when the middle of the original landmass collapsed into the sea.
Modern Day Fira
A colourful resort in Fira
The small town of Fira is located on the west side of the island, on the caldera cliffs opposite the volcano. It is Santorini’s capital and, as a popular destination for day-trippers from cruise ships, one of the busiest spots on the island. Fira offers various sightseeing activities such as museums, galleries and cultural events. It also has the island’s largest shopping centre and the biggest choice of dining out and entertainment. Fira tourists love walking around the shopping district searching for designer clothing, leather goods, jewellery and souvenirs. Yet you should be cautious of the tourist trap, as prices may be high, so try to bargain whenever you can.
A pretty courtyard
For spectacular views, head to Agiou Mina Street, which goes through Fira partway down the cliff, from the south part of the town all the way to the cable car. It provides the stunning vistas you aim to see. You can walk either north or south, but walking north has the advantage of having the main part of Fira in front of you. You will find a donkey parade where people use them for transportation purposes. Fira’s sunsets are also magical, the kind that enter your soul and live there forever. So try and plan to be on time to watch it in some of the best spots, like in front of the Orthodox Cathedral, Café del Mar or one of the narrow alleyways with typical restaurants and bars.
View of the caldera and volcano from Fira
The old port is an interesting place to explore and a good photo opportunity when taken from sea level. You can take a ride up and down again, using the cable car or going on a donkey ride. Going there is only half the fun. Around the port, you will see many fishermen selling their catch of the day, especially octopuses that you will see hanging from a rope for display. Try having lunch there with some Greek seafood on the menu.
The Magic Of Oia
A typically colourful street in Oia
The village of Oia (pronounced Ee-a) in the north is a former a major maritime trading centre. it’s utterly picturesque and is rightly celebrated as the jewel in Santorini’s crown. Oia is a dazzling mixture of cave houses, originally built for sailors and fishermen, painted in traditional whites, blues and oranges, packed cheerfully alongside the magnificent neo-classical style castles of former sea commanders. The other smaller houses surrounding them have domed roofs, which is another distinctive feature of Santorini’s architecture.
Oia at twilight
The main strip full of cafés, boutique shopping and a marvellous marble walkway is a must-see in the evening, when it is filled with people waiting to see street performances. From here, Santorini’s sunsets are even more dramatic than when seen from the designated viewing terrace at the tip of the village. Even the chaotic wiring and loose cables that criss-cross the square become part of the experience. You must also watch a sunset over dinner, it is what the island is known for. People gather around the cafés and restaurants lined up next to the seaside to try some delicious, authentic Greek food.
Sunset Oia Catamaran tours offer a first-rate adventure. You can swim in the hot springs and get a close up view of churches, the volcano and the famous three beaches in Santorini. The view of Fira from the sea is breathtaking. Captain Argiris and the crew are gracious hosts and will tell you things about the island others may not take the time to. In fact, any visit to Santorini is incomplete without a boat trip and there are loads of boats for hire from the old port. Different water activities also allow you to have an adventure.
Oia's famous churches with blue domes and whitewashed houses overlooking the caldera
Kamari Beach is a black pebble beach framed by the jagged cliffs of the Mesa Vouno and Profitis Ilias mountains and the crystalline waters of the Aegean. The beach itself is covered with small black volcanic stones, not sand, so it is difficult to walk on, but boards have been especially laid and there are many umbrellas. Most of the restaurants and cafés are on the beach side of the promenade, with some on the other side along with shops and hotels.
You should also visit Akrotiri, a Minoan Bronze Age settlement. The settlement was demolished in the Theran eruption about 1627 BC and buried in volcanic ash, which protected the remains of fine Forescoes as well as many items and artworks. The settlement has been suggested as a possible inspiration for Plato’s Atlantis. The site has been excavated since 1967 and at the moment it is partially excavated and protected from the sun inside a large shed.
Baked Specialties
Popular Santorini bakeries sell a variety of baked sweet and savoury goodies. You will love the baklava, the sweet originally made in Greece but now made and sold all over the Arab world. Pita bread can be filled with cheese, olives or spinach and minced meat, while tiropita or tyropita is a Greek layered pastry pie with feta cheese filling. For dessert, try the pastry consisting of either vanilla custard or (salty) cheese filling between layers of phyllo. Additionally, fanouropita is a kind of spicy bread with ground cloves and cinnamon, resembling a sweet bread rather than a cake. Similar to donuts, loukoumades are essentially fried balls of dough drenched in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and (sometimes) crushed walnuts. Last but not least, melitinia cookies are a local specialty as these sweet cheese pastries originated in the Cyclades. Soft Mizithra cheese, made from goat’s milk, is typically used as a filling, but ricotta can also be used as a substitute.
Donkey Love
Donkeys and Santorini go together like pigeons and the Piazza San Marco in Venice. They’re an integral part of the local tourism scene, providing tourists much loved rides up and down the traditional steps. There are hundreds of donkeys lined up along the island ready to take visitors around, but their droppings are everywhere, so you may want to watch where you are stepping.
A windmill is a typical feature in the Cyclades
2 Fast Facts
*While there are some 2,200 islands, islets and rocks in the Cyclades, only 33 islands are inhabited.
*The name Cyclades refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos.
