You can feel the energy of the volcanic crater just by standing at the edge of the caldera, one of the unique craters of the world which is inhabited.

A truly aristocratic village that combines the picturesque streets and the stunning panoramic views with the neoclassical buildings, the numerous churches and the tranquility. Wander around the medieval castle, one of the five castles of the island and let yourself be carried away in the magic atmosphere of another era. The village is famous for the small tin cans that are lit during the Epitaph procession on Holy Friday.

A spot standing out on the island is the Monastery of Prophet Elias, perched on the island’s highest point (567m), above Pyrgos village. The monastery was built in the early 18th century and currently four monks live there. A small museum with folklore and sacred relics also operates here. The view from the monastery is just outstanding.

A unique but also romantic place is the Akrotiri lighthouse which stands on the southwestern cusp of Santorini. Built by the French company La Société Collas et Michel in 1892, its mission was to guide shipping between Pireus and Alexandria, Egypt. The lighthouse, in fact, lies exactly on the axis of the shipping lane between the two ports. It also guides vessels and cruise ships into the harbor of Santorini or in the caldera, past a popular rock known as “The Indian”. This rock is named after the profile of the face that seems to appear in it.

The archaeological site of Akrotiri undoubtedly attracts thousands of visitors each year! The excavations began in 1967 and revealed an advanced prehistoric town 3,500 years old, which was buried under the ashes of the 17th century BC colossal volcanic eruption.

The findings were amazing:
two and three-storey houses, squares, streets, magnificent murals with images from everyday life, ceramics, jewellery, etc.

The traditional settlement is situated among fertile vineyards and for this reason there are several wineries in the area. The houses are built in the “potamos” of the village, where the rain water flows away, and they have high walls, mainly to protect the residents from the long gone threat of pirates. The beautiful church bell towers stand out in the village and you can also admire the relaxing square.

Emporeio is the largest settlement of Santorini located 12 km from Fira on the foot of Mount Prophet Elias. The village itself has a strong medieval character. Leave behind the newest houses and go up to the medieval castle of Emporeio. Get lost in the narrow streets and tiny steps, admire the small doors and photograph the house windows in the fortified settlement. At the entrance of the village stand two lovely, blue-domed Cycladic churches with an impressive bell tower. In a short distance, you can find the tower of Goulas, which used to be the rulers’ old residence. The monument magically transports the visitor into another time and dimension.

It is now time to take a swim at the unique black beach of Perivolos which is the amazing result of the active volcano. The black sand can be scorching hot in summer and is in perfect contrast with the deep blue Aegean water. After the dive, nothing better that a fine meal on the beach.

Everyone who sets foot on the island must definitely walk on the marble pedestrian street of magical Oia, that looks like a balcony overlooking the caldera. Get lost in the narrow alleys that spread like veins mainly towards the side of the caldera and visit the impressive captain’s houses and the Nautical Museum. There is a wide variety of souvenirs, gift items, jewels, books and pieces of art at the shops and art galleries.