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Santorini, Greece
The charming streets of Oia hold wonderful views of the sea in Santorini
AUTHOR: ARTSY CHOW ROAMER
Bringing you just a peek into destinations that should be on your bucket list. Not an in depth guide, just some luscious pics, tips and hacks to highlight why I love this place and you might too!
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Santorini is known as the pearl of the Aegean Sea with its breath-taking views of a volcano caldera and striking blue and white architecture. With a population of around 15,500, it has a land mass the size of Manhattan and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece hosting over 2 million visitors a year!
It is the largest island of a circular archipelago that includes the inhabited islands of Santorini and Therasia as well as the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi and Christiana. The remnant of a volcanic caldera, the island was the site of one of the largest eruptions in recorded history.
Occurring at the height of the Minoan civilization 3,600 years ago, it is thought to be the reason for the collapse of the island of Crete by causing a giant tsunami. Another theory holds that it also caused the legend of Atlantis.
Landmarks include several archeology sites, The Museum of Prehistoric Thira, the black sand beaches of Kamari and Perissa, the famous Three Bells of Fira, The Lighthouse and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Santorini was named by the Latin Empire and is a contraction of Santa Irini but used to be called Kalliste meaning “the most beautiful”. Boasting a whole host of things to do, places to see and great food to eat, this small charming island is indeed the most beautiful on earth. Are you ready for a quick Snap Shot?
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A detailed map of Santorini to give you the general layout…
Heavy tourism has contributed to the wealth and growth of the island. It is a big destination for the cruise industry and the ships have had to be more strictly controlled and spread out through the week in order to keep the crowds down.
The ships can not pull directly into port and therefore stay out in the water of the caldera. Tourists are tendered over to the island in small boats. You might recall in 2007 when the MS Sea Diamond managed to run aground and sink into the caldera.
You can take the Cable Car up the cliffs to Fira or ride a small donkey up the winding roads. I picked the cable car as I felt very sorry for the donkeys! The above map gives you a good idea of the general layout and the most desirable places to visit during your stay.
When
Best time to visit Santorini in general is between May and October Photo: SantoriniDave.com
Santorini is categorized as a semi-arid climate with Mediterranean characteristics. This makes July through August the hottest months but in general, anytime between May to October is best. Be aware summer months can bring heavy winds.
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When The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was scouting for filming locations it was determined that Santorini would make the perfect place for Lena to visit her grandparents while sharing the magical jeans that fit them all.
Lena nearly drowns while wearing the pants but is saved by a Greek boy who would become her boyfriend. Catch a glimpse of what you might see in the video below if you haven’t seen this sweet movie and it’s sequels.
Santorini was a featured film location Photo: IMDb TV
The classic has a sequel
See
A view from the roofs of Santorini looking out to the caldera…
The first thing you are going to want to do is catch some great pics of the island’s famous architecture from the windmills to the famous blue domes. Walking around the different neighborhoods of Fira, Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani and Megalochorie will give you some great shopping and bar hopping opportunities.
There are street vendors and restaurants offering a lively experience and fabulous seafood. These areas are a favorite to both stay and live with their breath-taking views, beautiful sunsets and quiet patios and porches with vibrant plants and climbing bougainvillea.
The video above will give you a good idea of how a walkabout might look and feel along with some of the best spots to get your shots. Use the map above to orient yourself and take it slow. There is no rush to see every place the first day. Buses will also be available to get you where you want to go if walking isn’t your thing.
During the season these areas can be incredibly crowded making the cooler winter months a better choice if you would like to avoid that problem. Most restaurants and shops do stay open now out of season since winter visitors have picked up. I visited near the end of November which was sweater weather and it was quiet and easy to get around.
Next up on your list of must do’s is to find the Three Bells of Fira (The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church) which can be a little tricky but provides panoramic views of the sea along with the bells and the iconic blue dome architecture of the church. The interiors are lovely, cool and quiet for some reflection and down time.
Also visit The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in the north end of Fira. It was the first built in Santorini in 1823 and is a tiny beautiful church of blue and yellow. Daily mass is held at 8:00 AM in the Monastery of the Dominican Sisters next door to the church.
Located in the extreme Southwest corner of the island in Akrotiri is the famous Lighthouse. Providing stunning views away from the maddening crowds it stopped working during WWII but was reconstructed by the Greek Navy in 1945 fueled by gas. Now it is automatic and provides a luminous white light.
The beauty of Santorini at night
If you like a vibrant nightlife with music and dancing you have come to the right place. There is plenty to be had but with vigorous noise laws it doesn’t create a nightmare for locals or the tourists that just want to sit back and enjoy the quiet of the sea and the beauty in setting suns.
Eat
My first choice for fine dining in Santorini has got to be The Athenian House located on the caldera side of the island in Imerovigli. As if the views weren’t to die for enough, the food will leave you wanting more as well. In it’s fifth season the restaurant is a consistent award winner serving Greek new cuisine.
The stunning views at The Athenian House Photos: Courtesy of The Athenian House Restaurant
Greek owners, born and raised in Athens, are behind this wonderful edition to the Santorini dining scene. They are faithful to local farmers and wineries and offer the best in quality ingredients with taste and innovation.
The menu offers three levels of dining with set choices and price that mainly centers around fresh veggies, soup, pasta, lamb and seafood. You can begin with some lovely appetizers like zucchini carpaccio or smoked trout mousse. Then try a chilled summer Greek soup or truffle grilled baby calamari. You can move on to ravioli, linguini or risotto and try lamb kebobs or the grilled fish of the day.
Dessert can be their luscious baklava or lemon basil panna cotta. Prices are in Euros for menus at 80, 90 and 120 per person. Yes that seems expensive but it is fine dining with killer views in the corner of Europe.
Prefer something a little further out that’s one of the best kept secrets to dining in Santorini? Hit Metaxi Mas in Exo Gonia. Still offering killer views it is more casual and laid back; think dining on the family porch. The service is friendly and the interiors are lit up with the vibrant colors of the Mediterranean.
Casual friendly dining with killer views at Metaxi Mas Photos: Courtesy Metaxi Mas
Chef is focused on Cretan and Santorinian foods which means the freshest seafood, pork, lamb and vegetables. Local and domestic wines are highlighted with an emphasis on taste and aroma for perfect pairings. Dressings and sauces utilize sweet local honey and olive oil from Crete drizzled over cheeses like feta, graviera and myzithra.
Salads incorporate loose leaf and rocket lettuces while pomegranate and avocado simply melt in your mouth. Santorini is known for it’s fava and appear on many menus simply dressed with spring onion and olive oil.
For your main course try the spicy fried pork dishes with delicious heat on the finish. Lamb is offered in a cool yogurt sauce with coriander or with fresh white aubergines, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese. Seafood choices present shrimp, mussels and octopus in a variety of ways finished with ouzo and Santorinian white wines.
You know how I like a little out of the way spot with good contemporary design and Roka has it all. Located in the Oia neighborhood this cozy little restaurant is in an old 1912 building surround by preserved Captains Houses.
As the sun goes down the lights come up to create a very dramatic setting on the patio where a small courtyard filled with flowers and trees offers a view of the sea. Three small dining rooms inside are lovely on cooler evenings where sitting next to the stove feels like eating in your neighbors kitchen.
Starters center around burrata, fava, eggplant, calamari and mushrooms. I was happy to see dorado and sea bass offered as well as a rabbit confit in olive oil. Home made pasta dishes round things out creating the kind of food that feels distinctly Mediterranean and instantly comforting.
Photos: Courtesy of Roka
Stay
I know I usually give you a couple of different places to stay at different price points but this time I decided to give the space to one special spot. That would be The Katikies Garden Hotel nestled in historic Fira. The area has a vibrant night life, offers shuttle bus transfer and is located in the center of great shopping and restaurants.
This is a five star luxury brand hospitality group with several choices in Santorini and Mykonos. The brand is clean, modern and contemporary with classic Greek detailing. The Gardens building used to be an historic monastery and has been transformed into a beautiful oasis offering 40 different suites, a restaurant, beauty salon and spa.
The interior garden area is striking as the sun goes down and the lights come on highlighting tall palm trees. The soft gurgle of the lovely fountain set in a classic black and white tiled pool makes it feel like a real sanctuary offering a relaxing spot for sharing a bottle of wine or a signature cocktail before dinner.
The Katikies Garden Hotel in Fira is one of the best places to stay Photos: Katikies Garden Hotel & Booking.com
That dinner will be unforgettable if you are lucky enough to snag a table at the Selene Restaurant on property. The food is legendary and is a continuous award winner.
The rooms are spacious utilizing warm jewel tones and classic black and white styling in the bathrooms. Each suite has it’s own private veranda; some with a hot tub and lovely caldera views.
The pool deck is located on top of the property and offers a fantastic 360 degree view and an infinity pool. The spa has four suites where relaxation and serenity can be found with the different services offered and the emphasis placed on health and wellness.
There is a sister property located in Oia as well. The views are even more stunning and that property also has a gym that you are allowed to use if staying at The Gardens. Don’t miss having dinner at their restaurant called Mikrasia and catch a great sunset for drinks.
The Gardens is kid and pet friendly if traveling with either. There are certainly much cheaper places to stay but splurge when you visit Santorini and use the private yacht motor service to stay at their property in Mykonos for a weekend. I really can’t recommend a better place to stay while visiting Greece.
The fabulous Mikrasia Restaurant with a view at Katikies Hotel in Oia
Guides
While most might book a water tour of some kind to enjoy boating for the day and have lunch or dinner, I prefer to do more specific land oriented things. The first I suggest is to visit Amoudi Bay to do a little roaming, shopping and experience some of the freshest seafood you will get while on the island. Swimming and cliff jumping also allowed!
If you want to taste the local wines than a tour of the Gaia Winery might be in order. Focusing on the two most promising types, Assyrtiko and Agiorgitiko, you can do a tasting flight that includes red, white and rose. Making wine in Santorini is not easy. The soil is rocky and volcanic and the yield is quite small by comparison to other areas.
Their winery is located on the quiet beach side of the island and is housed in a beautifully restored stone industrial building. Pair it with a visit to black sand Kamari Beach and rent yourself a hut to catch a few rays, take a swim and enjoy that bottle of wine you just picked up with a packed picnic lunch. Don’t forget your water shoes for these beaches-you will need them.
You know I like to do a little gallery and museum hopping everywhere I go and Santorini is no different. There are a lot of quality places offering everything from paintings, to glass and sculpture. Two of my favorite pieces in my own collection came from Greece; a contemporary figurative stone and metal sculpture and a lovely red and black glass piece from Santorini.
I suggest you spend some hours in the Museum of Prehistoric Thira located in Fira. Many items were found at the Akrotiri archeological dig which you can also visit. When done check out the stunning works of artist Gabbiano Nero; raku pottery and art at it’s contemporary best. The gallery is located on Panagia Myrtidiotisa in Kamari.
Another day check out the lovely wood sculptures of artist Eduart Gjopalaj whose studio is in Thira not too far from Kamari. Eduart is self-taught and comes from a small Albanian town on the Adriatic Sea. There is a very nice video on his Facebook page that shows him working on a piece and the techniques he employs when creating.
Don’t miss The Greek Wedding Show at the White Door Theatro in Fira. It is filled with music and Greek culture in a unique way that will have you dancing and singing along with the wonderful actors. Check out the You Tube video on this super fun experience.
The present municipality of Thera which covers all settlements on the islands of Santorini and Therasia, was formed at the 2011 local government reform, by the merger of the former Oia and Thera municipalities.
Oia is now called a community, within the municipality of Thera, and it consists of the local subdivisions of Therasia and Oia. The municipality of Thera includes an additional 12 local subdivisions on Santorini island: Akrotiri, Emporio, Episkopis Gonia, Exo Gonia, Imerovigli, Karterados, Megalohori, Mesaria, Pyrgos Kallistis, Thera (the seat of the municipality), Vothon, and Vourvoulos.
The flag of Greece
Additionally Santorini is known for its artsy chops. The movie Summer Lovers was made there. The Santorini Film Festival happens every year at the Kamari open air cinema. American hip hop musician Rick Ross made a music video there in 2017. There is both a video and board game inspired by Santorini.
Enjoy the music in the video below to chill, relax and get your Greek on.
The expansive breath-taking view of the caldera at sunset in Santorini, Greece
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