The Greek Islands, spread across the Aegean Sea, mostly to the south of the Greek Mainland, are hugely popular tourist destinations. Santorini is by no means the largest but visitors are arriving there in increasing numbers. They come in the main, not for its history and culture but the fine climate, cuisine, and chance to relax in a wonderful environment. That said, there is a prehistoric city, Akrotiri that is interesting, within guided walking tours available.
Santorini is around 200 kilometres from the Greek Mainland. It is easily accessible by ferry, domestic flights from other parts of Greece and its islands and other European cities in the tourist season. A huge eruption more than 3,500 years ago created the archipelago. In theory, the Santorini volcano is still active but what visitors can enjoy these days is a caldera within lovely warm blue seas.
Town & Villages
The population of Santorini all year round is a little over 15,000 but numbers grow in the season. Almost 2 million tourists decide on Santorini travel each year. The best time to visit Greece is between April and October with numbers at their highest in the middle of summer. Many stay in Oia Santorini but there are plenty of other alternatives throughout the Island.
Imerovigli is arguably the choice of those wanting something a little special. It is an upmarket village located on the top of cliffs. From there you will get lovely views across the nearby islands and the Aegean itself. Santorini photos taken from Imerovigli will show your friends how beautiful the region is.
Another name for Santorini is Thira and Thira is also a town on the Island which you will find to be rather crowded in high season because of the well-developed tourist infrastructure.
Narrow hillside streets
If you walk around in the small towns and villages during your holiday, make sure you wear a comfortable pair of shoes because many of the narrow streets are steep. On a hot day, you don’t want to tire because of your feet feeling uncomfortable.
The streets will be busy in the high season but if you pay your Santorini visit in early summer or into autumn, it will be quieter and accommodation prices will be slightly lower.
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While you may spend much of your holiday by the sea, and catching the rays of the sun, it is fun to explore and see what is around the next corner.
Typical buildings
Houses on Santorini bear similarity with most Greek Islands. White houses with blue roofs are everywhere you look. You do not need colourful Santorini images to enjoy the setting they create.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades Islands and throughout the group, the tendency is to see whitewashed houses that face the south-east to catch the best light. The walls are fairly thick not only as a defence against strong winds but to keep them as cool as possible in the summer. White reflects the heat which is important. They tend to be built with local volcanic stone which naturally absorbs the heat. In the height of summer, that has the potential to make homes very hot, hence the white.
But why blue rather than any other colour. It is simple; cost. Loulaki is a blue coloured cleaning powder that was readily available. Mixing the powder with limestone produced the paint. Half a century ago, Greece had a military government that insisted that all buildings on the Greek Islands should be blue and white. All in all, that decision has been one that has added to the appeal of the Greek Islands.
Santorini Churches
Many of the churches on Santorini fit in with the other buildings. They are white with blue domes, the same blue as all the other buildings. When you take your Santorini pictures, remember to get one or more with the blue domes set against the blue of the Aegean. Postcards of Santorini often show these two churches in Oia which sit on the cliff edge.
Agios Spiridonas and Anastaseos (Church of the Resurrection) are next to each other within the town. A third, Panagia Platsani, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Originally this church was within Oia Castle but the earthquake of 1956 destroyed it. Today, the rebuilt church is in the centre of Oia. There are two cathedrals on Santorini with the 19th Century Orthodox cathedral and the Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist both worth a visit.
Amoudi Bay
This beautiful bay is 200 steps below Oia. There is the small port looking out on the bay from which you catch a ferry or take a day cruise on the Aegean. Heading out to sea by day is something that you should certainly do during your Santorini holiday. There are small islands to explore very closeby.
The seafood restaurants looking out to sea are lovely with the day’s catch on every menu. Local wine is a great accompaniment. There are wine tasting tours that will teach you more about the local wine produced on Santorini.
Sunset cruises from the port are hugely popular throughout the summer but you will need to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Make sure you have protection from the sun in the heat of the day. The sun and the pleasant breezes can combine to burn you if you are not careful.
You can just relax and sunbathe, swim or even try your hand at fishing. There are plenty of good beaches on Santorini to enjoy on other days. As Santorini is volcanic, you can expect to find some black sand of course but there is white sand as well.
Conclusion
The Greek Islands are lovely and a great place for a holiday. The Greeks are naturally hospitable people and that certainly applies to Santorini. Locals are happy to see visitors enjoying their island.