Santorini is a Cycladic Island along the Aegean Sea. The whitewashed, pristine houses with blue roofs and multicolored pebbles formed from lava make up a beautiful scenery that tourists can hardly get enough of. Have you combed every nook and cranny of this island? Well, these are the most beautiful places in Santorini
Perissa Beach
Perissa Beach is the most popular beach in Santorini and the reason is not far-fetched. The sands which flaunt a distinct black color formed by volcanic eruptions, match with the surrounding mountains and form a deep contrast with the turquoise blue seas.
Pyrgos
Pyrgos was initially the capital of Santorini. There are numerous cottages that are whitewashed scattered around the beautiful region. It was inhabited for some years but it is fast gaining momentum to become one of the biggest tourist hotspots in Santorini.
Museum of Prehistoric Thira
If you visit this alluring museum, you will be enthralled by the beauty of the exhibits which display paintings of ceramics, weapons, and tools on the wall of a pristine, snow-colored building.
Oia is located in the northern region of Santorini and it is a picturesque village with whitewashed buildings that have been remodeled into fascinating luxury hotels that give panoramic views of the caldera. The main source of income generation in this town is from tourism. It is the most photographed part of Santorini and is loved for the amazing views of the sunset it offers.
Fira
Fira also known as Thira is the capital of Santorini and it is the most beautiful town in the region. The cube-shaped houses are whitewashed; the churches have blue-domes and are built on the breathtaking cliffs. There are boutique hotels, upscale restaurants, souvenir stores and captivating cafes sprawled all over.
Caldera
Formed by the massive volcanic explosion that blew the center out of the island some 3,600 years ago, the calder is the sea-filled volcanic crater that remained. Measuring 12 kilometers by seven kilometers, it is still home to volcanic activity – in its center rise the two Kaiméni islets with hot springs and gas emissions.
Various agencies offer one-day excursions of the caldera by boat, including time to bathe in the hot springs and then have lunch on Thirassia, a tiny island on the west side of the caldera affording amazing views back to Santorini across the water.
Akrotíri Archaeological Site
Near the village of modern Akrotíri, 12 kilometers southwest of Firá, the ancient Minoan settlement of Akrotíri was buried below lava following the 16th-century BC volcanic explosion that created the caldera. At the Akrotiri Archaeological Site, visitors can walk on pathways through the debris of the town to see remains of the clay buildings of this once thriving town. It is so well preserved that it’s often compared to Pompeii. The site has remnants of multi-level buildings, pottery, and drainage systems, proving that Santorini was a flourishing and prosperous island before the eruption and probably lived from shipping and trading.
Santorini’s connections with North Africa can be deduced from the outstanding frescoes (most of which are now in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens) that decorated its houses. The site of the Akrotiri ruins reopened to the public in 2012, following several years of closure.
Ammoudi Bay
At the base of the cliffs rising to the town of Oia, the port of Ammoudi Bay glistens above sparkling turquoise waters. Descend the 200 or so steps down from Oia, and you are in the picture-perfect setting that is Ammoudi, known for quaint Greek tavernas serving the catch of the day just inches from the waves, and isolated coves ideal for swimming. Another popular activity is cliff diving if that’s what gets your adrenaline pumping.
For a less adventurous and still exhilarating experience, hire a sailboat to bring you to the volcano for a swim in the hot springs.
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