(Area 96sq. km. Distance from Piraeus 130 nautical miles).Santorini, one of the best-known of the Cyclades, differs from the other islands in the group thanks to its geological morphology, the result of action by a volcano now dormant. The landscape on the western side of the island, where towering cliffs crowned by tiny and blindingly white houses plunge straight into the depths of the sea. The steep coastline of the west is countered by the vast beaches of the east side, some of them sandy and others with pebbles. From the landing-place, Skala, we can climb up to Fira, the capital, on foot or on donkey-back. There is a funicular railway for those who wish to avoid the hundreds of steps. Fira is very attractive, with winding narrow streets, arcades and a quarter where the Catholic nobility once dwelt. There is a most important Museum, with prehistoric finds (mostly pottery), a large collection of vases dating from the 7th and 6th centuries BC (including the pieces known as 'Thera ware'), a few Archaic and Classical pieces, and some Hellenistic and Roman sculptures and portraits. There is a
superb view out from Fira to the Kamenes, the two islets of
black stone created by the volcano. The islets can be visited by
launch. Ancient Thira is a site of great archaeological
interest which was occupied by Phoenicians, Dorians, Romans and
Byzantines. Down the centre of the city runs the Sacred Way. The
buildings include groups of houses, market-places, baths,
theatres, sanctuaries, the residence of Ptolemy Euergetes, tombs
of the Archaic and Classical periods and Early Christian
remains. On the surrounding rocks the names of the god Apollo
and of men and boys are inscribed in the ancient alphabet of
Thira. The site at Akrotiri has yielded the remains of a Minoan
city destroyed around 1500 BC by an eruption of the volcano on
Thira. In effect, this is a prehistoric version of Pompeii
buried beneath volcanic ash, with two and three-storeyed houses,
with squares, shops, workshops and so on. Among the finds from
the houses were marvelous murals (on display in the National
Archaeological Museum, Athens), vases, and everyday utensils. On
the highest peak of Santorini is a monastery of the Prophet
Elijah (Profitis Ilias), where there is a picturesque religious
feast on 20 July each year. The old-world village of Ia, 11 km.
to the north of Fira, is a place of incomparable beauty. The
unique appeal of Ia lies in its little houses hewn out of the
soft rock (some of them whitewashed, others painted blue or
ochre), its neo-classical mansions with their courtyards, its
narrow paved alleys. There is a superb view out to sea. Among
the best bathing beaches - some of them with black sand and
others with pebbles - are Kamari or Armeni, Amoudi, Baxedes,
Perissa, Monolithos and Kokini Paralia. The striking landscape,
the peculiarities of the natural environment, the unusual
architecture and the outstanding monuments of Santorini attract
very large numbers of visitors in the summer - so many, in fact,
that the excellent tourist amenities of the island can only just
cope with them.
How to get there: By ferry from Piraeus, Information: Piraeus Port
Authority, tel.: 01 /422.6000. By air from Athens, Information:
Olympic Airways, Athens, tel.: 01/966.6666.Useful telephone numbers Automatic dialling code: O286. Police: 22649 Commune Offices: 22231 Archaeological Museum: 22217 Olympic Airways ticket office 22493 Olympic Airways (airport): 22525
Things to buy Embroideries knitted goods rugs handicrafts ù wine chick-peas.
THIRASSIA
Thirassia, off Santorini near Ia, is the largest of a chain of islets formed by volcanic activity and the only one inhabited. Its sole village, Horio, is a pretty place with whitewashed houses, reached by a flight of 250 steps from the landing-place. In the winter, there are caiques from Ia to Thirassia, while in the summer months the travel agencies of Santorini run trips from Fira and Athinios. There are a few rooms to rent on the island.
Information: Commune Offices, tel.: 0286/23190.