Land of Volcanoes

Island of a thousand sunsets, tiny in size yet mighty of heart, Santorini's beauty is legendary. Little white houses on the Caldera cliffs, hidden paths at every corner, churches and chapels, sipping coffee at small cafes watching the world go by - all of this is what we call Santorini Magic.

The events in Santorini's volcanic past changed the Ancient World, the face of Europe and the balance of political powers to come.

After each eruption, the island waxed and waned. In the aftermath, Santorini's shape changed accordingly and her name changed with it: Strongili The Round, Kallisti The Fair, Filotera, Thirameni. Under the Venetian rule of the Cyclades that lasted 300 years, the island received its popular name, Santorini. The official name for Santorini is Thira, after commander and son of Sparta, King Thiras.

Each year the island holds cultural events, live concerts, traditional folk dancing and art exhibitions. At Greek Easter, a spectacular celebration takes place in Pyrgos village. On the night of the Anastasi (Holy Saturday), the hillside is lit with a magical display of candles that are in fact small tins filled with slow-burning wax, wood shavings and cotton wicks.

Villages
Distances between villages are relatively close. Megalochori village, where Casa Grande is situated, is a good place to start your island exploration. A short drive takes you to Akrotiri and the archaeological excavations of a Cycladic Bronze Age settlement of the Minoan civilisation.

Fira the island capital rests on the Caldera cliffs opposite the volcano and sunset. Shopping hub and nightlife mecca, it has an abundance of restaurants, cafes, clubs and bars. There are also several museums and exhibitions centres. Far below, lies the small port of Ormos, accessible by local cable car.

Just above Fira one can discover the neighbouring village of Firostefani. And beyond that, serene Imerovigli with the imposing Skaros Rock, one of the five fortified settlements of Santorini. Drive all the way north, and you arrive at the pretty village of Oia with her art galleries, shops, cafes, Venetian castle and sunsets.

The hillside village of Pyrgos is a lovely Protected EU Settlement with churches, a Venetian castle, coffee shops, glorious sunsets and many paths to explore.

Beaches
Below Megalo Vouno, site of the ruins of Ancient Thira, are the two best-known beach areas of Santorini. On one side of the mountain lies Perissa, Perivolos and Agios Georgios, and on the other, Kamari. Both offer organised beach facilities, watersports, bars, cafés, and a selection of restaurants, taverns and snack bars. Kamari, the more compact of the two, has a lively shopping area and an open air summer cinema.

Perissa and Perivolos are close to Megalochori. Eros Beach, also nearby but less well known, has a sandy road approach through a gorge. There is a cafe-bar overlooking the beach. Other beaches include Red Beach and White Beach in the Akrotiri region; the latter is only reachable by boat. The beaches of Monolithos and Kolumbo are quieter and unspoiled.