Globalista

Santorini, a sun-drenched volcanic island in the middle of the Aegean Sea, is one of the most romantic places on earth. A classic Greek postcard of whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches and black sand beaches, the island is essentially the remains of a volcano that exploded 3,500 years ago. The caldera, upon which many of the villages perch, provides the island with a focus, a harbour and a place to watch the sun set, which is exactly what hundreds of tourists do throughout the summer. Santorini is part of the Cycladic group of islands (which includes Mykonos) and its charms lie in its physical beauty and cosmopolitan feel. The hotels are some of the best in the world and it's easy to spend a few weeks if not months here, just chilling out, slowing down and watching the world go by. Some of the locals think that Santorini is the site of the lost city of Atlantis. Most of the visitors don't care, they just think it's heavenly.

On the northeastern side of the island lies Oia, Santorini's prettiest and most photographed village. Clinging to the edge of the caldera, its whitewashed walls and blue-roofed beauty are maintained by strict laws that force cables underground, oblige the colour of the roofs to remain the same and ban cars past a certain point. It is utterly charming, but since it has the island's best hotels and restaurants it tends to be busy during summer. Fira is the island's capital, also overlooking the caldera, and it's where most of the cruise ships dock. It's not as pretty as Oia, but it does have some fantastic restaurants, boutiques and bars. Other places such as Megalohori (which we believe to be the only authentic village on the island) and Imerovigli also have some interesting sights and hotels.

It's important to know that many of Santorini's villages don't have street names and therefore don't have addresses. Ask around and you'll find that places are pinpointed by landmarks - for instance, 'by the church' or 'on the harbour'. Also remember that Santorini is a seasonal destination, with the majority of hotels and restaurants closed during the winter months. Finally, this is an island with lots of steps and steep climbs - if you have bad knees or are with small children in pushchairs, it may be better to go elsewhere.

Globalista's Pick of the Press

22 August 2009 - The Independent - Be Seduced by Santorini
8 June 2008 - The Times - Theodore Kyiakou describes The best Greek island tavernas

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