Do you come to heaven? It is just around the corner… Santorini is the most dreamed of Greek island and the one that represents it the most with all the corollary of words and consolidated adjectives often abused, so as to be even trivial. But not here where the beaches of black volcanic sand contrast with the white houses with blue domes.
Santorini, the pearl of the Aegean Sea
Then, instead, it becomes the “usual story”: you arrive and you don’t want to leave again. Effect Greek islands, natural generators of serotonin, the hormone of happiness. As our friend Francesco Pezzolla had anticipated to us, a great connoisseur of the Greek landscapes and soul, also because he was also “contaminated” by being Hellenic on his mother’s side.
And we chose Santorini as a destination for our journey for two reasons: the first to crown a dream and make a wish come true; the second to make our first seasonal bath in the sea of this island which is the southernmost of the Cyclades in the Aegean and is also the largest of the twelve islands that make up the eponymous archipelago.
But that’s not all. Santorino, as the Venetians called it in honor of Sant’Irene, is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world. And, we add, one of those goals to be included in the list of trips to do at least once in a lifetime!
The island of volcanic origin has the shape of an inverted C and was formed in prehistoric times due to an important seismic event that took place in 1500 BC. which caused the cone to collapse, gutting the crater which was subsequently flooded with sea water. Thanks to its volcanic origin the island is characterized by colors ranging from ocher to red to the black of the beaches located on the east coast: Perivolos, Perissa and Kamari.
But first things first. We arrived there in the evening so we saw only so many lights from the plane around a large black circular spot and, before landing, a huge mountain that almost cuts the island in half.
Only the next day we began to realize that in reality Santorini is an explosion of colors, from the white of the typical buildings with blue domes like the sea, to the blue of the sky, to the red of unforgettable sunsets.
The most beautiful? According to our personal classification, those admired from the top of the lighthouse, from the sea aboard the catamaran in the center of the caldera and, of course, the famous ones of Oia.
Two of the other things that immediately affect you once landed in Santorini are the very high number of churches, more than 300, and the low, bushy vineyards, cultivated in baskets to protect them from the unpredictable Meltemi and from which are made wines which are considered among the best in the world.
Could we lose the tasting? The tasting of 10 most characteristic island nectars was one of the first experiences we wanted to achieve reaching Santo Wines, not only the most famous winery in Santorini but a lovely place with a breathtaking view over the caldera.
If you are curious about what wines we tasted read the next post on What to eat and drink in Santorini.
We wanted to start exploring the island from above, not before renting the car, a Fiat Panda, a faithful companion of our laps even on dirt roads like the one that led us to the mills.
The costs are around € 30-40 per day and petrol is not exactly cheap, but there is the advantage that parking spaces are free almost everywhere. And also in this case in the choice precious was the help of our friend Franco Pezzolla who suggested Papus (www.rentacarsantorini.gr) making us save around 80 euros in a week.
Returning to our first exploration of the island, we started from Pyrgos, the highest village, perched on the Profitis Elias mountain, which until 1800 was the capital of Santorini.
In the center of the village stands the medieval castle, Kastelli, one of the 5 on the island and all around the houses set in amphitheater that compete for the scene with the picturesque Byzantine churches. It is worth climbing up here because from Pyrgos you can admire an incredible panoramic view of all of Santorini.
TO SLEEP
Kokkinos Villas Santorini
Akrotiri 84700, Santorini
Cyclades, Greece
Info: +30 22860 81941 – +30 22860 82200
info@kokkinosvillas.gr
INFO AND TIPS
To plan your trip to Greece with advice on how and where to book your holiday (hotels, restaurants, car rentals) and what to do and see, write to Francesco Pezzolla: ingfrancescopezzolla@libero.it
