Santorini or Thira Island, Cyclades, Greece, pictures and information, beaches, nature, car rental

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Santorini or Thira Island - The largest caldera on earth

Santorini is high on the wishlist of Greek island hoppers and lots of people have told me how much they loved the island. The spectaculair sunsets, the unrivaled landscape, the historic sites and the views over the sea set Santorini apart from other islands in Greece. In fact most of the postcards that you can buy on other islands are shot on the island of Santorini. Because it is such a popular destination it can also get busy with tourists though. When you visit Santorini by ferry than sailing along the beautiful high clifs with the little white dots (villages) on the top is one thing, but getting out in the ferry harbour of arrival is another. The harbour of Santorini, Athinios, four kilometer south of the capital Fira, is a concrete affair and you find yourself in tourist-information paradise with lots of signs and people that are offering their rooms. It can be noisy with cars (with the exception of course of the old parts of the villages where the streets are narrow or there are stairs), busses and people. The beaches of Santorini don't belong to the best of the Cyclades and the hotels, the supermarkets and the restaurants are normally more expensive than on most of the other islands, yet Santorini keeps attracting the tourists because it has other things to offer.

Our first visit to Santorini in 2000

We were on Santorini just a couple of days (2000) and we have seen the two major villages of Santorini, Thira and Ia or Oia (where all the postcards come from). Oia started out sort of quiet early in the morning, but after a couple of hours it became quite crowded. The village is famous for it's sunsets. There are nice views in the village, I think better than in Thira, and there is also less traffic, with none in the center (the streets are narrow and often with stairs). At the end of the afternoon when the visitors have gone home to their hotels the peace returns to the village of Oia. Somehow people seem to have strong opinions about the island of Santorini: some people love it to bits, others couldn't care less about it, so the only way to find out is by going to Santorini and experience it yourself.

The return to Santorini

In 2009 we returned to Santorini to give it a second chance and we also decided to rent a car so that we were able to see a little bit more of the island. This was a good idea. The first time we had an accommodation somewhere outside Fira, close to a busy road (we just picked it out in the harbour when we arrived because we didn't have a clue where to go to when we arrived on the ferry), and this time we had reserved something really nice: a quiet cave house in Oia overlooking the caldera. We found out that the location of your accommodation and knowing what to see and do makes all the difference when you visit the island. We stayed at Leandros Traditional Houses (see the hotel page) and it was wonderful. It was quiet (no cars, no people walking by), it had wonderful views and actually it was not that expensive. It consists of 3 houses only and the lady that owns it was also a tour guide for Santorini, so she had some great tips. We found out that the island is actually quite diverse and has something for everybody. Of course there are still the popular destinations like Oia and Fira that you really have to see, but we also found beautiful nature, interesting things to look at and a couple of very, very nice and quiet beaches. Also the daytrip to the opposite island of Thirassia was quite a nice experience. Just know what you are looking for when you are going on a holiday to Santorini and prepare yourself a bit and also: find a nice place to stay.

The village of Fira on Santorini

The center of the activities is the capital Fira which is positioned high on the edge of the caldera rim. Stairs lead down the crater wall, 587 steps, to the old port of Skala Fira. You can walk or you can go by donkey, but there is also a cable car. Skala Fira is a place where the cruise boats moor. Allthough Fira can be seen as a tourist centre it still has enough charm left to pay it a visit. Even if it was just for taking a drink on a terrace and enjoying the views. It is a photegenetic and picturesque place and there are views from Fira to the neighbouring island of Anafi. The big attraction in Fira is the view over the caldera and the vulcano. There are telescopes on some of the places so you can take a better look. Along the edge of the caldera and in the many small and narrow streets behind it you find all kinds of small bars, tavernas and shops.

Like in many of the villages on Santorini there are many churches with domes and there are characteristic cave houses: dwellings that are cut into the rocks. The most famous and most photographed church is the 18th century Agios Minas church with its blue dome and white clock tower. There are also two Archeological Museums in Fira. In the old museum there are mainly finds to be seen that date from the post Minoan times and in the new museum next to the bus station there are Minoan frecoos on display that have been found in Santorini. There is also a town museum.

The best time to exlore Fira is in the mornings when it is not so hot and so busy yet and the sunrise gives the buildings a beautiful glow. In the cause of the day the village will fill up with tourists that are armed with cameras ready to take their pictures and not until the end of the afternoon the peace will more or less return. In the evening the village comes to life again and the bars and the clubs in Fira fill up.

The village of Oia on Santorini

Oia is the most important settlement hanging on the the caldera cliff on the north side of the island. Oia is without any question the most picturesque village on the whole island of Santorini and it is famous for having the most beautiful sunsets in Greece. Oia is a little bit less crowded and a little bit nicer than in Fira. Like most of the villages in Santorini Oia was heavily damaged during an earthquake in 1956 but it has been rebuilt in a high quality. Down at the caldera cliff is the tiny port of the village (Amoudi) with its fish tavernas. Oia has two beaches that you can reach by stairs. They are the small black pebble beaches that are called Amoudi and Armeni. There are beachchairs and umbrellas for rent and compaired to the beaches at the popular beach resorts on the east side of Santorini they are very quiet. Just outside Oia is the village of Finika that is slowly developping into a tourist centre of its own. More villages here.

A little bit more about Thira - Santorini

Okay, you are reading on, so you maybe are still making up your mind about Santorini.... Santorini is often described as the most spectacular of all the Greek islands (and maybe it is so because of the landscape). You can agree or disagree and you must make up your own mind about it when you visit the island. It is more crowded and a bit more expensive than most of the other Cycladic islands though. The landscape, the archeological site of Akrotiri and the legend of Atlantis keep attracting the tourists. People see it on the tv and read about it in magazines and books. The island has been made so romantic everybody wants to see it.

The island of Santorini is also known as "Thira". The name Santorini dates from the Venetian times, the name Thira is older and this is actually the official name of the island. Because nobody knows better and for most people the name "Thira" doesn't mean a thing the island is still commonly referred to as Santorini. Most of the island is rather treeless and dry and on some parts tomatoes and grapes (for the famous Santorini wine - grown on the vulcanic soil) are grown. In the greyish landscape spread like little white dots are the villages. Interesting ones are the villages of Pirgos and Akrotiri. Akrotiri, situated in the south of Santorini, is still largely a traditional village and south of it lies the Minoan village that many people come to see.

Santorini - the explosion

The legend of Atlantis took shape because the vulcano-island of Santorini exploded in 1500 BC (I keep bumping into different dates during the research and since I wasn't there myself "give or take" a century) taking part of one of the earliest civilizations, the Minoan civilization, and its settlements with it down to the bottom of the sea. The later discovery of the Minoan harbour town of Akrotiri has put Santorini on the archeological map. The town was buried under a pile of ashes during the explosion. This explosion also created terrible rains of ashes and a tsunami that headed for Crete. On Crete too many things were destroyed including (they believe) the Palace of Knossos. The tsunami that destroyed large parts of the island of Crete and the ash rains that covered the land changed life for ever and ended the Minoan civilization. The site of Akrotiri is large and not all of it is excavated yet. The people of Akrotiri were so technologically advanced that the legend of Atlantis was born. There were street drains and the houses had inside toilets. The houses look quite modern and are brightened with beautiful fresco's.

The beaches of Santorini

Since Santorini is a vulcanic island most of the beaches are not brilliant. Normally the beaches on Santorini consist of small black pebbles and they are usually not very large. Exception to the rule are the beaches that are situated in the southeast of the island. Perissa Beach santorini
� Perissa and Kamari Beach - The beaches in the south eastern part of the island, Perissa and Kamari are much wider and larger and these are the two places where most of the accommodations can be found. Perissa is more a village for the independant traveller and there are hostels, pensions and rooms for rent. It lies next to the village of Emporio and is well protected from the Meltemi wind that can blow over the Cyclades in the summertime. Perissa is protected from an any wind that comes from the north because it is placed next to the Profitis Ilias mountain. Kamari is more a place for expensive hotels. Because the beaches are colored black it can get very hot when the sun is shining on it. Maybe it is a good plan to bring your beach sandals. Red Beach santorini
� Red Beach - More beaches can for instance be found in the south near the village of Akrotiri (Red Beach and White Beach). Picturesque Red Beach or Kokkini Ammos has reddish sand and a steep and highrising black and red rock / lava cliff behind it. The beach is not so very large so it can get crowded quickly. Small boats leave from Perissa and from Akrotiri and bring you to Red Beach. From all the people that come to Red beach not everybody is staying. Some of the visitors just want to take a look, make a picture or two and then go on to do other things. The Red Beach is a sight on its own. It is favorite by many visitors because of its natural beauty and cristal clear water, and because it is not so over-commercialized with tavernas yet. White Beach santorini
� White Beach - Next to Red Beach is the smaller White Beach or Aspro Paralia which is only accessible by boat (sometimes you read you can get there on foot but you would really need a parachute for the last part down the cliff). This beach is is a a pebble beach - an many of these pebbles are quite large - which is surrounded by high white cliffs. These beaches (Red and White - two of the most famous beaches of Santorini) can be reached by kaik (a traditional Greek wooden boat) or Red Beach also on foot from the village of Akrotiri in about ten minutes. Red Beach and white beach are not far away from the ruins of the Minoan city. In the area of Red Beach there are some hotels, whereas at White Beach there are none at all. Monolithos Beach santorini
� Monolithos Beach - The beach of Monolithos is close to the airport and is more or less an extension of Kamari Beach. Here it is more quiet than on some of the nearby other beaches. There are a few hotels in the area, but unfortunately although the beach is nice, there is very often a strong wind blowing here. Monolithos Beach has fine black sand and it is shallow, so it is also suitable for families with small children. Monolithos Beach is an organized beach with facilities and there are sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. There are tavernas and there are possibilities for all kinds of watersports on Monolithos Beach. For the people that love the shade but don't want to immediately rent an umbrella there are also some trees on the beach you can lie under. Cape Columbo Beach santorini
� Kouloumbo Beach - Cape Columbo of Kouloumbo Beach in the northeast of the island is one of the most isolated an quiet beaches. It consists of a large strip of black sand. High waves beat down on the coast here. This is one of the beaches on Santorini which is not organized (no beachchairs and umbrellas). Of all the beaches in this part of Santorini Kouloumbo Beach is the best and the prettiest. An option for the visitors that want to avoid the big crowds and don't care about the extra luxury of sunbeds and umbrellas. Since there is nothing on the beach (except sand and the sea of course) it is very wise to bring at least one big bottle of water and some sunscreen if you don't want to return home feeling dehydrated and looking red as a lobster. Perivolos Beach santorini
� Perivolos Beach - The beach of Perivolos is not far away from Perissa beach and here it is also reasonably quiet. Actually Perivolos Beach can better be looked at as some sort of extension of the beach of Perissa and the beach of Agios Georgios Beach which lies south of it. The long beach of Perivola has more a dark grey kind of sand instead of the black and it consists of both pebbles and sand. The last three beaches are organized beaches with facilities. There are beachchairs and umbrellas for rent and there is a good choice in tavernas, kafenions and accommodations. There are possibilities to do all kinds of watersports as well. The distance to Perissa Beach is three kilometer and it can be reached by bus, taxi or if you like you go on foot. Agios Georgios Beach santorini
� Agios Georgios Beach - Agios Georgios Beach is situated in the south of the island at a half a kilometer distance of Perivolos Beach. There are plenty of small tavernas and a good choice in different kinds of accommodations set along the beach and beyond. The distance to Perissa Beach is aproximately three and a half kilometers and Agios Georgios is more quiet than its nearby neighbour. Like the other beaches Agios Georgios is also organized and so you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas and you can try out all kinds of watersports. On this part of the island it is one large stretch of sand and one beach will smoothly turn into another. Sometimes it can be hard to see where the first beach ends and where the second beach begins. Vlihada Beach santorini
� Vlihada Beach - Next to Agios Georgis and the last in the row is the beach of Vlihada. This is a very picturesque beach which is surrounded by high rising white/ yellowish cliffs. Vlihada Beach is situated next to a harbour with small traditional wooden kaiks where ducks swimm around in the water and fishermen kill time mending their nets. The beach of Vlihada is also an option for people that like it a bit more quiet, because you will not run into as many people here as you might do on Perissa Beach or Kamari Beach. The facilities are limited but there is one small cafetaria on the beach. Maybe not a bad move to bring a large bottle water with you when you go here. There are sunbeds and umbrellas for rent but only at the beginning of the beach. Mesa Pigadia Beach Santorini
� Mesa Pigadia Beach - This beach is situated in the southwest of the island of Santorini off the main road to Akrotiri close to the lighthouse. You can reach the beach over a dirt track. The distance from the main road is aproxemately 1 kilometer. On Mesa Pigadia it is a littel bit more quiet than on some of the other beaches because it is more out of the route. The beach is not very large and in consists of sand with pebbles and also with larger stones on it. Mesa Pigadia Beach is surrounded by high white cliffs. There are a couple of cave-houses that are sometimes used to house fishing boats (during the winter time). You can also reach Mesa Pigadia Beach by excursion boat from Akrotiri. On the beach of Mesa Pigadia there is also a restaurant. Amoudi Beach Santorini
� Amoudi Beach and Armeni Beach - These two beaches are two popular beaches that are situated below the village of Oia. Amoudi Beach is one of the most charming beaches of the island of Santorini and it can be reached by stairs (214 wide steps). It is set at the foot of high rising red cliffs and has a spectacular view over a rock that is standing in the cristal clear water. Amoudi Beach comes with a small harbor and there are fish tavernas and kafenions. Both beaches are easy to reach from the village of Oia. Armeni Beach is a small beach that is a little bit more difficult to reach than Amoudi. It is 286 steps down (by donkey or by foot). Don't forget that after you have gone down you need to climb back up. For more beaches on Santorini click here.

How to get to Santorini

Santorini has got an international airport and so there are flights from Athens and from several cities in Europe. The easiest option would therefore be to arrive in Santorini bij plane. The journey by ferry from Piraeus takes quite some time but it is also possible to take a fast ferry from Crete or combine Santorini with one or more other islands in the Cyclades thus cutting the trip by sea into smaller parts.

Santorini or Thira island

Thera, or Santorini (Greek: Thira), is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea belonging to the Cycladic island group. It lies north of Crete, south of Naxos and Paros, and actually consists of three islands (Thira, Thirasia and Aspronisi) that were made during eruptions of the volcano in the middle of the islands. This created a ring-shaped archipelago. In the year 2000 Theri had around 7100 inhabitants. The capital is called Thira. Santorini is the Venetian name and comes from Saint Irini or St. Irene, a saint in exile that died on the island in the third century. About the emergence of the island, there are various speculations. For example that Santorini would have been the island of Atlantis, and Plato with his story about Atlantis would have been inspired by the volcanic eruptions of the the island. Furthermore, the cloud-column and the fire caused by the eruptions of the volcano of Santorini could have been what Moses has seen during his trip through the desert. Several of the plagues that struck Egypt could have been directly or indirectly related to these eruptions, as darkness came on the Egyptian land and water became undrinkable.

The volcanic eruptions in the Minoan period

In the Minoan period a huge explosion occurred, according to investigation in the year 1628 BC. This lava steam was so huge that the old city of Akrotiri disappearde below 50 meters of pumice and stone. The volcano also dropped into the sea and caused a tsunami with meant a massive destruction and disater on Crete. This wass likely directly or indirectly the cause of the end of the Minoan civilization two hundred years later. In the (fully filled with seawater) caldera eruptions later formed other small islands formed. The latest eruption was the mid-20th century

Booked for 2009 - Leandros Suites Traditional Houses in Oia

This is where we have reserved for the 23d, 24th and 25th of May in Leandros Suites in Oia. The owner is Angela, and she is from the Netherlands, and married to a Greek man. She has been living on Santorini for 12 years and according to her e-mail (very quick reply) she has got some really nice tips to discover rhe quiet and unexplored Santorini. I am curious about it. The complex consists of 5 luxury traditional houses and offers a very friendly and quiet atmosphere. Each house has it's separate bedroom, sitting, marble bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. All houses have a spacious veranda, overlooking the cliff, the volcano and the sea. Also ideal for small groups/family. We stayed here and it was wonderful and quite cheap, read more - click here.

Tel:+30-22860-71832/71833 | Fax:+30-22860-71665 - Send an e-mail to Leandros Suites in Santorini

Tip for accommodation on Santorini or Thira island - Hotel Atlantida Villas in Oia

The 4**** Atlantida Villas complex is located in the village of Oia (Ia) on the cliff side of the island of Santorini. All the suites, apartments, studios and double rooms have their own balcony or veranda overlooking the volcano, the sea and the cliffs of the village of Oia in Santorini. The guests can enjoy the magnificent sunsets for which Santorini, and especially Oia, is famous. Hotel Atlantida Villas has the best views of all the accommodations in the village of Oia. The hotel offers comfortable and enjoyable accommodation, and is considered one of the finest hotels in Santorini.

Check availability and prices & book Hotel Atlantida Villas click here

Hotel Atlantida Villas in Oia, Hans Huisman, http://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/ 2007 2008 <XMP></body></xmp>