Santorini Vacation info Center,
Information on Villages in Santorini Greece.
Do you know that
Santorini is number one wedding destination in
the world for the last 6 years.
Santorini has about ten thousand
inhabitants during the winter time
and about forty in the summer.
Santorini is a crescent shape
surrounding the black volcanic
islands lying in the bay. What was
once the island of Thira sank to the
bottom of the caldera in the
apocalyptic explosion in 1450BC. The
lagoon-like caldera measures 32
square miles and is 300 to 400
meters deep. In the center are Palea
Kameni and Nea Kameni. .
There are 14 villages and
the capital on Santorini
island is Fira full
of motion and night life.
Each one of the villages has
its own character, while all
together create the unique
Santorini atmosphere. On the
western side where the
volcano is located, the
sheer cliffs, 300 meters
high, are multi-colored
strata of black, red, grey,
and brown.
Getting
There
-
Daily ferry connections
with Piraeus (9 Hours),
Crete (3 Hours), Naxos
(3 Hours), Paros,
Mykonos, Ios. Santorini
is also connected with
other islands of
Cyclades, Dodecanese,
Skiathos, Thessaloniki.
Ferries call at Athinios
port southern to the
Capital Fira. Cruise
ships call beneath the
cliffs at Fira. Climbing
up to Fira can be done
by either donkeys or
cable car. There is also
frequent catamaran
service from Piraeus and
other Cycladic islands.
There are direct
schedules from Athens
and charter flights from
Europe.
Getting
Around
-
There is a
frequent bus
service which
operates between
Fira, Ia,
Perissa, Kamari,
Athinios,
Akrotiri,
Monolithos. Car
and motor bike
hire is
available. Taxis
are also
available.
Nightlife
- Entertainment
-
Lively. Watch
the sunset at
cafe shops
sitting at the
rim of Fira.
Cool bars where
you will drink
remarkable
cocktails. You
will dance till
you drop down.
Excursions
-
Nea Kameni
(appeared in
1720AD), is a
volcanic islet. The
trip involves 30
minutes walk from
the mooring up to
the crater of the
islet. Boat trips
operate to
Thirassia island
(half an hour from
Ia), a small island
originally part of
Santorini until
another
eruption-earthquake
in 236 BC split them
apart.The port
village is about 300
steps up the cliff
face. Ia (north of
Fira) with
spectacular views
sitting on the
cliff, Akrotiri
(south west) the
island's
archaeological site
are not to be
missed. Perissa and
Kamari (south
east) are the beach
resorts with black
sand. In Fira
the
Archaeological
Museum
accommodates finds
from Akrotiri and
early Cycladic
sculpture.
Megaron Gyzi Museum
exhibits island's
history.
Places
to visit -
The New
Museum of Fira,
which opened in
March 2000, is
the second
largest
pre-historical
museum in
Greece. It
exhibits
frescoes from
Akrotiri and the
first golden
find in
Cyclades.
The Old
Historical
Museum in Fira,
with finds from
Santorini and
the Greek
Hellenic Period.
The
Archaeological
site of Akrotiri,
where the
ancient town
(1500-1600 BC)
was destroyed.
You can still
walk through the
streets and
houses.
(recommended)
The
Nautical Museum
in Ia, with
rare marine
items, models of
old and new
ships and
library.
Boutaris
Winemakers,
in Megalohori.
Excellent
decaration, wine
taste and
multimedia with
the history of
the island.
Megaron
Gyzi in
Fira, with old
clothes, maps
and cards from
Santorini before
the earthquake
in 1956.
