The first settlements on Santorini appeared in 3000 BC. e., and who knows how many ancient monuments would have survived to this day, if not for the powerful volcanic eruption that flooded most of the archipelago. But there are already enough sights on the island, and it is better to start acquaintance with them in Fira. The local architecture is traditional Cycladic houses and churches, the most famous of which is Ayiu Mina with its sky-blue dome, which flaunts on advertising brochures. The Museum of Prehistoric Times contains priceless finds: the most ancient ones date back to 3300 BC. e. Not far from the capital is the main church on Santorini Panagia Episkopi, built in the 11th century.
Note: according to allcitypopulation, the population of Greece is 10.66 million (2021).
On Cape Akrotiri, the ruins of one of the oldest settlements on the shores of the Aegean Sea were found. People lived here as early as the 4th millennium BC. e., and today anyone can examine in detail the elements of their life: not only multi-storey buildings and complex drainage systems have been preserved, but also pieces of furniture and household utensils.
There are many impressive temples in the village of Imerovigli: the Teoskepasti church hanging over the abyss, Panagia Malteza with a carved altar, the convent of St. Nicholas. There is something to see in Perissa: in the center rises the church of Timio Stavrou, at the foot of the mountain – the ruins of the Basilica of St. Irene of the 5th century, at the top – the snow-white chapel of Panagia Katefiani. One of the most famous temples of Santorini, the monastery of Elijah the Prophet, is located near the town of Pyrgos.
From the observation deck at the monastery of Elijah the Prophet, magnificent views of the Aegean Sea open up. On fine days, you can even see the outlines of Crete.
In the vicinity of Kamari, the Wine Museum has been opened with galleries at a depth of 8 m and an exhibition covering the history of winemaking since 1600 (website in English). The culmination of the tour is a tasting of the best varieties of local wines.
After seeing Santorini, you should go to other islands of the archipelago – Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. On the first one there is a dormant volcano since 1950, on the second one there are hot sulfur springs, bathing in which is good for health.
10 things to do in Santorini
- Enjoy the amazing beauty of the combination of white and blue – the main colors of Fira.
- To make sure that the church of Ayiu Mina is even more beautiful in real life than on the brochures.
- Watch the sunset in Oia and realize that you didn’t know anything about sunsets before.
- To study in detail the life of ancient people at the Museum of Prehistoric Times and at the excavations of Akrotiri.
- Count all the colors of the beaches of Santorini.
- View the outlines of Crete from the observation platform at the monastery of Elijah the Prophet.
- Take a walk among the ruins of the Venetian castle on top of the Skaros rock, in the village of Imerovigli.
- Taste local wine with a bite of tomato cutlets “domatokeftedes” (an alternative for extreme lovers is tomato jam).
- Go on a visit to the dormant volcano on Nea Kameni.
- Splash in the sulfur springs of Palea Kameni.
Santorini for kids
Santorini cannot boast of a variety of special activities for children. Family leisure on the island is walking along the picturesque streets of cities and villages, combined with relaxing on numerous local beaches. A play area with attractions is open on the coast of Kamari, there is a small playground on the Monolithos beach, here there is the safest surface and a gentle seabed. Older children will certainly be interested in visiting archaeological museums, especially the excavations of Akrotiri, where you can walk among the ancient houses.
Another place that is guaranteed to please both children and adults is a small water park in Perissa. There are only a few pools and slides, but the water in them is the purest, there are enough sun loungers and umbrellas for everyone, and the food is excellent in the local restaurant. The water park is open from 10:00-0:00, attractions are open until 19:00. Entrance is 8 EUR for adults and 5 EUR for children.
Santorini’s climate is typical of the Mediterranean, with hot, sunny summers and mild, wet winters. In the south and in the central regions it is warmer than in the north. Most of the time the sky over the island is cloudless, rare rains begin in October. From November to March it is cool and damp, gusty winds blow. In winter, the island literally freezes: the streets are empty, transport links with the mainland are suspended. In July and August, it is quite hot, and walking through the hilly terrain can sometimes turn into a difficult test. Therefore, the best time to visit Santorini is May, June and September.