Part of the Cycladic islands, Santorini, officially known as Thera, (a name that encompasses

the volcanic islets within Santorini’s orbit) sits in the Aegean Sea, roughly halfway between Athens and Crete.

The island is shaped like a wonky croissant and the neighbouring islets

hint at the fact that Santorini was once circular; it was known as Strongili (round one).

Thousands of years ago a colossal volcanic eruption caused the centre of Strongili to sink,

leaving a Caldera (crater) with towering cliffs along the east side – now Santorini’s trademark landscape.

 

Santorini’s commercial development is focused on the Caldera-edge clifftops in the island’s west,

with large clusters of whitewashed buildings nesting at dizzying heights,

spilling down cliffsides and offering gasp-inducing views from land or sea.

Fira, the island’s busy capital, sprawls north into the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli, the highest point of the Caldera edge.

A path running through these villages is lined with upmarket hotels, bar/restaurant terraces, shops and endless photo opportunities.

These 3 conjoined settlements draw most visitors, together with the stunning and quite exclusive village of Oia in Santorini’s north. 

Santorini’s east coast is lesser known than the celebrated, elevated west coast.

Here, the caldera-edge heights have sloped down to sea level,

and volcanic-sand beaches and resorts offer a very different drawcard. 

Sunlounger-filled beaches, water sports, bars and taverna-lined promenades.

The east coast’s beaches are lined with black sand; on the south coast,

there’s a string of beaches famed for their multicoloured sand – the dramatic Red Beach is a favourite.

 

Wine-tasting is a must.

Santorini’s lauded wines are its crisp dry whites and the amber-coloured, unfortified dessert wine known as Vinsanto.

Both are made from the indigenous grape variety, assyrtiko.

About a dozen local vineyards host tastings and offer food, with scenery and local produce combining to great effect. 

 

Santorini’s history intrigue reaches deep into the past,

with the fascinating site of Akrotiri displaying a Minoan city destroyed by the volcanic eruption of 1613 BC.

In Fira, the impressive Museum of "Prehistoric Thera" helps piece together the story of ancient Akrotiri.