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Santorini
Villages
Info
Fira
Fira (also called Thira )is the capital city
of Santorini island, located above the old
port, on the western side of the island. It
is built amphitheatrically hanging from the
cliff, featuring a direct sight to the
volcano and probably the best sight you have
ever seen. It is the largest town on the
island and has gained preference with
visitors because it is central and access to
other parts of Santorini is made easy by
either taxi or bus. You also can reach the
town by cable-car, donkey or on foot. It is
a very attractive village, with white cubic
houses, narrow walkways and impressive
Venetian manors. In Fira, you can visit the
splendid Archaeological, Prehistoric and
Folklore Museums, as well as wonderful
churches and cathedrals.
Fira caldera and Nea Kameni
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View from Fira |
Kamari
Kamari is a seaside village on the southeast
side of Santorini, located to 10 km to
northwest from Fira. During the ancient
times Kamari used to be the seaport and it
was called Ia. Many ancient findings have
been discovered here. Kamari was quickly
developed because of the sea and its beach.
It has a beautiful beach that looks to the
east with black sand and protected on its
south side by the vertical rocky volume of
Mesa Vouno. Although there are many taverns,
bars and clubs Kamari has a far calmer
environment than Fira. There are all the
usual water based activities plus a regular
water taxi to take you round the peninsula
to neighboring Perissa.
Sunset in Kamari |
Kamari From Thira |
Megalohori
Megalohori, located to the west side of the
island, near the port, is a rock village in
the interior of the island that is known to
have existed since at least of the 17th
century . A small place (its name means "big
village" but that appears to be more
euphemism), but a lively community with a
fairly large permanent population.
Megalohori fascinates a fair number of
visitors, who choose it as a handy base for
exploring the island: it is not to far from
Fira (9 km), and within easy distance of
both Akrotiri and the beaches of the
Southeastern coast. The churches of Aghia
Anargyri, Isodia tis Theotokou and Aghios
Nikolaos Marmaritis on the road to Emborio
are worth seeing.
Church at Megalohori |
Megalohori
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Karterados
Karterados is a small village and is only 2
Km away from the town of Fira. The village
is prominent for its innovative
architecture, which causes the visitors
spellbound. In addition to its architectural
heritage, there are several vineyards around
the village, which imparts an element of
delicate beauty to Karterados. Karterados
was erected inside two rivers, almost
invisible from everywhere. It's name means
the watching - hiding place. Here you can
find the traditional Santorini architecture.
The church of Analipsis is worth seeing.
Karterados Chruch
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Karterados Beach
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Oia
The attractive village of Oia (Ia) is by far
the most beautiful and picturesque village
on Santorini, located on the north of the
island, 11 km away from Fira, is renowned
for its amazing Caldera and sunset view, and
its traditional "cave" houses that are built
into the side of the reddish cliff. It is
ideal for quite vacations, walks around the
alleys, romantic dinners, breathtaking views
and elegant shopping. Oia gives you a
different sight of the islands that
constitute the volcano (Palia & Nea
Kameni)and of the small island of Thirasia.
In addition it has several cultural
attractions like the Maritime Museum which
houses a small library, items from the
maritime life of the area, and the vestiges
of a Venetian fortress. Many artists fell in
love with the area and settled there. For
that reason, the village of Oia has many art
galleries.
Oia Afternoon |
Oia from Rocabella |
Imerovigli
Santorini has a number of sites where one
can take impressive photos of the unique
landscape the island proposes. But maybe the
most exceptional is one featured at
Imerovigli, at the highest place of the rim
of the caldera (300 meters high). Imerovigli
which means day watch is a picturesque
village located at the north of the island,
only 2 km away from the capital of Fira. In
fact, it is the extension of Fira, but the
village is situated on a higher cliff, built
opposite the volcanic isles of Nea Kameni,
Palea Kameni and Thirassia. A unique
atmosphere: verandes hanging over the
caldera, luxurios semi under ground
apartments, swimming pools on the edge of
cliffs. Imerovigli is an ideal "balcony " to
the Caldera, and that explain the fact that
it has developed into a "hotel-village" of
postcard beauty. Couples in love actually
create this village's profile. Romance,
sight and peace.
Imerovigli Sunset
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Imerovigli Night
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Perissa
The village of Perissa is a very
tourist-crowded village, situated on the
southern part of Santorini, beside the
stunning black beach and crystal-clear
waters, 15 km to southeast of Fira. The
village of Perissa is not really a village
but a mostly a tourist city, filled only
during the summer holidays time. A number of
hotels, restaurants, taverns, bars, discos
and other facilities are available for the
visitor. The area is newly erected and has
been created only for the purpose of
welcoming visitors, which explains the
architecture, that is very different from
the other villages, that are much more
traditional.
Perissa Beach |
Perissa Large Church |
Pyrgos
Pyrgos is situated to 8 km southeast of Fira.
The village was built on the top of a hill
and presents an incredible panoramic view of
the whole island. In Pyrgos you come face to
face with medieval Santorini. The village
still preserves the structure and
characteristics of the fortified Venetian
town, surmounted by its castle. Pyrgos was
one of five fortified towns built by the
Venetians in th 15th century. The village
has a population of 500 inhabitants, and
used to be the capital of the island until
the early 1800s. It is one of the most
impressive Santorini villages, with Venetian
Castles and Byzantine churches; the most
notable is the Theotokaki, with some
interesting frescoes. Pyrgos offers a good
selection of hotels and apartments that
provide a lovely view of the island and the
Aegean Sea. The beaches of Kamari and
Perissa are located just a few kilometers
from Pyrgos village.
Pyrgos Church |
View of Pyrgos |
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is located to 8 km south from Fira,
near famous Red Beach and is the most
important archaeological site of Santorini,
known of course for the famous ruins from
the Minoan period. There is not much to see
in Akrotiri city. But it is a calm village
and enjoyable to wander around in. There is
an old fortress at the top of the town which
was devastated during the earthquake in
1956. This was the site of the city and
instead of restoring it they rebuilt the
city below the fortress. You can still go up
and wander around. From the top of the
village you can see the caldera of the
volcano and miles of grapes. In fact you can
see most of the island. Also, there are two
old churches in the village, Aghia Triada
and Ipapandi tou Sotiros.
Red Sand Beach, Akrotiri
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Most valuable thing left in
Akrotiri |
Firostefani
Firostefani is an area located to 2 km to
north from Fira, which offers a spectacular
sight of the capital town and the sea. A
calm village, which is mostly constituted of
hotels, traditional houses, villas, studios
and rooms. There are a few shops. The area
proposes just a couple of restaurants and
cafe but Fira, where all the activities are
concentrated can be reached on foot. It is
also, one of the most picturesque and
peaceful neighborhood which is poised on the
cliffs of the Caldera.
Firostefani at dusk
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Firostefani Village
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Mesaria
A lovely village, centrally located,
Messaria is surrounded by gardens and
vineyards. It is located 4 km southeast of
Fira; transportation is available toward and
from every possible island destination.
During the last few years the village of
Messaria has seen the building of luxury
accommodation and a variety of specialty
shops. Messaria also produces the famous
Santorinian wine. The churches of
Metamorphosis tou Sotiros and Aghia Irini,
both build between 1680 and 1700, are worth
visiting, as is the Metropolis church.
Messaria has a Cycladic charm with its
attractive white washed houses and tiny
winding street paths. One of the most
impressive spots in the village is the
Argiros mansion, erected in 1888 by
winemaker George E. Argiros, and just
recently restored.
Mesaria Village |
Mesaria Beach |
Emporio
Emporio is erected on a plane, and for many
years was the island's commercial focus ,
the marketplace, for all its local produce.
Today it is one of the island biggest
villages, with the largest permanent
population (many of seasonal businesses in
Perisa are run by people from Emporio),
several shops, a medical center, a
newagent's and a school. Emporio also had a
fortified castle during the medieval years,
vestiges of which are still visible. North
of the villages there is a strong, square
building named "Goulas", in which the
village people protected themselves from the
pirates.
Emporio fort |
Beach near Emporio |
Vothonas
Vothonas village is an existing testimony of
a village built of rocks, sited to 6 Km away
from the town of Fira. It is amongst the
most attractive village of Santorini and the
best part of Vothonas village is that it is
uncrowded. You can be assured of peace and
silence, two elements that are at premium in
this jet set modern age. Most of the houses
have been unearthed of the streams. A stroll
down the main street of the village leaves
you in awe of the wisdom and ingenuity of
those village craftsmen, who knew how to
build strong houses with the cheapest of
materials and how to exploit the depth of
the gully to protect them from the winds.
Physically, this is the strangest village on
the island, and is worth a visit just for
that reason. No visit to Vothonas is ever
whole without visiting the splendid church
of St. Anna, which happens to be the oldest
church of the village and was erected way
back in 1827.
Vothonas Windmill |
Vothonas Village |
Exo Gonia
Exo Gonia is a small village erected at the
slopes of Mesa Vouno (Profitis Ilias
Mountain). It is amphitheater like and has
in its center some wonderful churches. The
biggest of these is red tiled with a bell
tower that hovers over the city. The houses
here are of the traditional Cycladean
variety. In small Exo Gonia you are in
another planet absolutely, with nothing to
remind you that you are actually on the most
tourist island in the Aegean. In the evening
people gather in the patios of the houses,
grandmothers sit gossiping on the stoops,
friendly dogs rub against your legs. Drop in
to the taverna foe supper, and enjoy the
sight towards the sea and the flat land
where airport are situated. You can either
come down from Pyrgos or snake up the sandy
road to Kamari, which continues to Perissa.
Small Church Bell Tower |
View from Mesa Vouno |
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