Santorini, officially Thira, is what remains of an almost round volcanic island whose centre sank into the sea in the colossal Minoan eruption of the 17th-16th century BC. Today the island is a crescent around a submerged caldera up to 400 metres deep, in the middle of which rise the still-active volcanic islets of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. The name Santorini comes from Santa Irene, as the Venetians called it. To some the island recalls the myth of Atlantis.
The caldera villages
| Village | Character |
|---|---|
| Fira | The lively main town, with shops, bars, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera and the cable car down to the old port |
| Firostefani and Imerovigli | Quieter and more panoramic; from Imerovigli you can climb Skaros Rock |
| Oia | At the northern tip, the most photographed village, with captains' houses, windmills and the most famous sunsets |
| Pyrgos | Inland medieval village with a Venetian castle and 360-degree views |
| Megalochori and Emporio | Traditional villages with fortified houses and wineries |
What to see
- Akrotiri, the Minoan town buried by ash, called the "Pompeii of the Aegean", with multi-storey houses and drains; the original frescoes are in Fira and Athens.
- Ancient Thera, the Doric and Hellenistic city atop Mesa Vouno, between Kamari and Perissa.
- The Fira-Oia trail, about 10 km along the caldera rim, best early in the morning.
- Boat trips to the Nea Kameni volcano, with a walk up to the crater, to the hot springs of Palea Kameni and to the island of Thirasia.
Beaches
Santorini's beaches are volcanic: black sand and pebbles at Kamari and Perissa-Perivolos, long and organised; Red Beach, with red cliffs near Akrotiri, to be approached with care because of rockfalls; White Beach and Vlychada, with wind-sculpted rocks. The sea is deep and clear, but black sand gets scorching in summer.
Wine and food
Assyrtiko vines grow in volcanic soil, trained into basket shapes to shield them from the wind; Vinsanto is a sweet wine from sun-dried grapes. Many wineries offer tastings with a view. Try Santorini fava, sun-dried cherry tomatoes, capers, tomato fritters (domatokeftedes) and chloro cheese. See Greek wine.
Nightlife and festivals
Fira is the nightlife hub, with bars overlooking the caldera and clubs; Oia is more romantic and quiet. Music festivals are held in September and October, and on 15 August many villages hold religious festivals.
Getting there
The airport has flights from Athens all year and direct European flights in summer. Ferries from Piraeus take 5-8 hours to the port of Athinios; there are connections with other Cyclades and Crete. Cruise ships anchor in the caldera and passengers land at Fira's old port, linked to the town by cable car and a stepped path.
See also the Cyclades and Santorini and the Atlantis myth.