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| Spectacular Sunsets of Santorini |
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The picturesque, volcanic island of Santorini famed for its dramatic sunsets belongs to the Greek Cyclades group of islands. It lies between the little known islands of Anafi and Ios and is relatively small in size enabling you to drive from one end to the other in around 50 minutes. One way to explore is on foot or by bike - it's a sure way to take in the opulent landscapes and authentic villages. Some of the villages like Mesa Gonia and Pyrgos display remarkable traditional architecture a mix of ancient and old style grand houses.
Getting There
You can fly to Santorini's Kamari Airport directly from Athens with Aegean Airlines, AirSea Lines or Olympic Airways and this is by far the fastest route at only 30 minutes flight time. However tickets go fast during the summer season. There are also many charter airlines flying in from key European cities. The island is also connected to some of the other islands by Sky Express during the summer making island hoping a great option. Once you have arrived at theairport you can take a bus into Fira and from there take other busses to other towns. There are also plenty of ferries from Paros, Naxos and Piraeus to Santorini's brand new port as well as a daily ferry to Crete during the peak season. If you enjoy travelling by sea then take one of the fast catamarans, like Hellenic Seaway's Highspeed; it will only take 4.5 hours to get to Piraeus from Santorini. Many cruise ships include Santorini on their route through the islands, but they dock near to the old port and you are rowed to the landing bay by local fishermen. Once you are on the quayside you can take the cable car to Fira or ride on a donkey. The island is well served by public buses and taxis as well as little boats that ferry people between the island's key coastal towns.
A Dip Back in Time
During Byzantine the rule it became a Christian colony with its own bishop and Christian church. Following the fall of Constantinople in 1204 AD, the Venetians ruled the island and gave it its present name in honour of Santa Irini. By 1207, the island was given to the Venetian Duke of Naxos and although it was captured by the Greeks for a short period, it was reclaimed and stayed under Venetian Rule until 1579, when the Ottoman army conquered it. It was part of the great Ottoman Empire until it received its independence in 1821. In 1830 it joined the Greek Republic.
In 1956, disaster struck the island when another violent another volcanic explosion brought severe devastation. Notwithstanding, the island picked itself up from this catastrophe to become one of the most well-liked and admired holiday destinations in the world.
Must See
Santorini is famed for its wine production from the locally grown Assyrtiko grape. You can see the vines growing quite a distance apart along the hillsides spiraling down to collect the moisture from the dew on the ground. The grapes are protected from the elements by growing inside the spiral vines. Growing vines is a difficult task in Santorini because the island has no natural source of fresh water; right up until the Nineties water cisterns were filled with rainwater that was collected in water butts as well from a few small springs and from water imported from the mainland. More recently a desalination plant has been built but it does not provide any drinking water. Nevertheless, the wine is produced here is of superb quality particularly the sweet, strong red Vinsanto. The island's whites are very dry a strong, citrus bouquet and a slightly sulfurous taste thanks to the volcanic ash in the soil.
The island capital, Fira offers much in the way of extraordinary architecture, with its busy white cobblestone alleys full of shops, cafes and tavernas. It has many hints of its Venetian rule buried in some of its old buildings. Getting to the capital is a feat in itself; you can either take the easy route via the cable car from the port or tackle all of the 588 steps on the back of a donkey. There is an interesting Archeological Museum here as well as the Museum of Prehistoric Thira, which has a superb collection of artifacts found in the ruins of the Minoan town of Akrotiri.Whilst the towns that make up this island are stunning with much to offer in the way of panoramic views and local character, the villages and countryside are well worth taking in; there are many cave houses some still in use and tiny white churches as well as family run vineyards. If you get a chance take a boat over to Thirassia, a tiny neighbouring island with lots of authentic Greek charm and a wonderful mural painted by the local children. The Faros lighthouse near Akrotiri in the west is perched on a rock-strewn cliff is not open to the public but is a great place for taking photos.
The Beaches
There are plenty of magnificent beaches on the island like Black Beach and White Beach, which is only accessible by boat from Red Beach. This beach is reached via a rocky path or by water taxi. It is so named after the iron- rich, red rocks which tower above turning the sand a beautiful shade of red. The first few metres of shoreline are covered with pebbles but this does not put off the hoards of beach lovers who flock therein summer. This beach also offers fantastic snorkelling and its tavernas are built into the rock caves. If you prefer somewhere less crowded then Vlichada Beach is ideal and so is the beach at Amoudi although it is more of a shingle strip rather than a sandy beach but it does offer some brilliant secluded swimming and a large rock platform for people to dive from. 
