Seeking Wanderland

Santorini, also known as Thira, is maybe the most acclaimed island of all the Greek islands, a beautiful realm with spectacular sunsets. It belongs in the Cyclades group, located on the southern side of the Aegean Sea. The surrounding islands imply that Santorini was originally spherical and its name was Strongili (the Round One), but the island was geologically modified during a massive eruption of its volcano in the 17th century B.C., which built the stunning Caldera and the unique general scenery.

The volcano in Santorini is one of the few active volcanoes in Europe, which has erupted 12 times within the past 4000 centuries causing dramatic modifications in the morphology of the surroundings. Today’s Santorini is a group of islands, including Thira, Thirassia, Aspronissi, Palea and Nea Kameni. These islands are accessible by boat from the main island and are very uniquely colorized and shaped.

Fira is the island’s scenic capital, positioned 260m above sea level on the highest edge of the Caldera and giving stunning views of the Aegean Sea and the island of Nea Kameni. Along the caldera’s edge, is located the iconic settlement of Oia, the scenic Imerovigli, and the magical Firostefani, which are the best sites for sunset views.

There is a variety of villages on the island, some are small and traditional, others are cosmopolitan with vast vineyards to explore, others on a cliff-top offering breathtaking views over the sea. Principal features of the villages are the whitewashed cottages, the blue domed churches, a few windmills, ancient towns, vineyards and the numerous Canaves – the traditional Santorinian houses scattered around the island.

The island is a famous wedding destination and one of the top romantic and honeymoon destinations in the world. With the majestic views either from the sea or from the land, the sunset colors, the open-air cinema, the wine caverns adorned with artwork, the local gastronomy, the cool microbrewery and the hot springs, it’s no surprise that Santorini is on so many travel bucket lists.

The captivating sunset view, the definitive Cycladic architecture, the magnificent hotels, the gourmet restaurants, the dramatic rocky scenery, and the outstanding volcano are just a few of the reasons anyone would fall in love with this one-of-a-kind island!