Page 34 - ANDRONIS magazine 19/20

EXPLORE

Four Santorini Tips

from Insiders

WIndIng PaThS and TOWERS
JuST 12km fROm fIRa, Emporeio is the island’s biggest village. This hinterland settlement
served to protect locals from pirate raids in the Middle Ages, which explains the Kasteli, a
castle settlement at its heart with tall walls to keep social and economic activity hidden.
Also visit Goulas Tower, dating back to the15th century, the church of Agios Nikolaos
Marmaritis with its gorgeous marbles, Metamorfosi church to see its impressive seashell
mosaic – and discover intriguing architecture all around.

LIfE WITh ThE VOLcanO
SanTORInI BOaSTS ThE OnLy inhabited caldera in the globe. The island’s shape is telling
in the extent of damage caused by a 17th century BC explosion. Nea Kameni and the
islets seen from the slopes of Imerovigli, Fira and the rest of the west coastline used to
be part of a larger, unified island before disaster stroke. Yet, this geological particularity
was responsible for the large pumice deposits that used to bring in much of the island’s
income. What’s more, this is why we can now sunbathe on stunning red and black
beaches that look right out of a sci-fi film – including Perivolos, Red Beach and White
Beach – a secluded lunar landscape in black, white and blue.

dIScOVERIng ThE OLd haRBOuR
hIddEn aWay undERnEaTh Fira is Gialos, the island’s old port. Today, it serves only cruise
ships, and is where you can hop on a cable car to Fira – very useful for those who cannot
walk the 588 steps uphill, which take most about half an hour. Looking suspended
above the sea, Gialos hides unique caved houses chiselled into the rock as well as
mysterious caves formed by erosion. Straight out of the pages of a fairy-tale, it’s worth
heading downhill for.

ThE LOST cITy Of aTLanTIS
SanTORInI’S VOLcanO haS inspired artists and scientists alike to explore its singular
properties. Along with archaeological evidence from Akrotiri, an ancient city that
was abandoned when the volcano erupted, they have inspired theories of the island
being the location of the legendary lost city of Atlantis. The Hellenic Centre for Marine
Research concluded that even if Santorini is somehow linked to Atlantis, it is difficult to
find evidence in the bottom of the sea. However, the experience of a visit to Nea and
Palea Kameni islets is not to be missed: you can see steam emitting from the depths of
the earth and swim in warm, sulphur-rich waters.

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