Santorini Fira

Fira is the busiest point of the island. Hanging from the highest

cliffs of the Caldera, it attracts thousands of tourists and, as a

result, Fira is the most densely built part of Santorini.

It would be better to visit Fira in the morning, when it is not that

crowded. Have a glance at the Theotokopoulos Square, the

meeting point overflowing with cafés and thousands of visitors!

Gold Street with the jewellery stores and the commercial center

Fabrika are poles of attraction, but you should also go ahead

to Budi to enjoy the view of the Caldera. The view is fantastic,

as well as the happenings takingplace at that spot.

Now it is time for the Archaeological Museum of Thira

(tel: 22860-22217), which includes collections of sculptures

and inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman Period, but also

vessels from the Geometric until the Hellenistic Era. Visiting the

incredible Museum of Pre-historic Thira (tel: 22860-23217) you

will get into the spirit of the civilisation developed at Akrotiri and

admire the indelible colors of murals which remained intact

under the lava. The Bellonias Foundation is the cultural center

of the island, standing out with its colors, yellow ochre and cypress green (tel: 22860-24960), whereas the Gyzis Mansion (tel: 22860-23077) has copper engravings from the 16th-19th century depicting local daily life scenes.

The Santorini Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral is situated in a unique position in the Caldera and has wonderful religious paintings created by the Santorinian painter Christoforos Asimis when the church was rebuilt, following the earthquake of 1956. The Catholic Cathedral will impress you with its architecture and steeple. The Catholic women’s monastery, with twelve nuns, constitutes a remarkable monument. In the Folklore Museum, founded by Manolis Lignos in Kontohori of Fira (tel: 2280-22792), you will see a cave with the layers of lava deposits from the volcanic eruptions, as well as an authentic “kanava” (see wine section).

Tip: From Fira one can take the cable car to go down to Gialos. Otherwise you can very well ride a “barron” (donkey!) or walk down 587 steps!