A brief review of Santorini
Fira is the modern capital of Santorini and the name derives from an alternative pronunciation of "Thera", the ancient name of the island. Fira is a city of 1,600 permanent inhabitants, with white-washed houses built on the edge of the 250 metres high caldera on the western edge of Santorini. From Fira there is a panoramic view of the 18 kilometres long caldera from southern Cape Akrotiri to northern Cape Ag. Nikolaos. Fira also has a port that was for many years, the main port of Santorini. Today, this port is only used for cruise boats. The two main museums of interest are the Archaeological Museum of Thera and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera built on the site of an earlier church destroyed in the 1956 Amorgos earthquake.
Imerovigli is a village situated at the north of Santorini, only 2 km away from the capital of Fira and has 500 permanent inhabitants. Its name comes from the word "vigla" which means view spot and during the old times it allowed villagers to see the pirate ships approaching. Imerovigli is mostly famous for its beautiful sunset, that it is called "balcony to the Aegean". Imerovigli has many lovely churches, all made in the Cycladic architectural style. In front of Imerovigli lies an enormous rock called Scaros which are the remains of a Venetian Castle built in 1207 by Marco Sanudo, the ruler of all Cyclades islands that time. This part of the island collapsed after an earthquake, and only the huge hill of Scaros is left today.
Akrotiri is a village situated at the southwestern side of the island, 5 km from Fira next to the famous red beach and has a population of 355 inhabitants. Akrotiri was originally a Minoan settlement discovered in the excavations conducted in the region in 1967 and today is one of the major tourist attractions and the most important archeological site of Santorini. During the medieval times (Venetian conquest) it was one of the island's chests. Today, at the top of the hill over which the modern village is built, is still the Venetian Tower (Goulash), the old one that is known as the castle. The Akrotiri Lighthouse which was constructed way back in 1892 is one of the most beautiful spots to enjoy the sunset.
Pyrgos (literally 'Tower) is a village situated in the center of Santorini, approximately 8 km southeast of the island's capital Fira, with a population of 900 inhabitants. It is built amphitheatricaly on a hill that offers magnificent views of Santorini in almost all directions. On top of this hill remain the ruins of a Venetian castle (Kasteli) that was once the island's administrative center. Until 1800, Pyrgos used to be the island's former capital. From Pyrgos, a road runs to the Monastery of Prophet Elias which was built in 1712 on the highest peak of Santorini, at 565 meters above the sea where you get excellent and breathtaking views of the whole island.
Oia is the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini situated on the north west edge of the island, 11 km away from Fira with a population of 1,545 inhabitants. It is famous for its quiet life and unique sunset and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia. It is a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches, sun-bathed verandas and plenty of tourist shops. Oia has several cultural attractions like the Maritime Museum which houses a small library, items from the maritime life of the area, and the vestiges of a Venetian fortress. Oia also has a small port, Ammoudi, which can be reached by a set of 300 steps leading down.