A mysterious place that awakens new emotions in you! The contrasts of the black stone with the whitewashed houses of the caldera. The deep blue of the Aegean and the pink of the bougainvillea in the courtyards. The sound of the waves and the smokestacks of the ships. The sunset and the medieval settlements. Whatever we tell you about Santorini is very little compared to what you will see when you visit it. That is why it is not unfairly considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world!
Those who know never go to Santorini in the summer. They will prefer Easter to experience this unique atmosphere offered by the devotional customs of the days. One thing is for sure. The emotions, images and experiences you will acquire will accompany you for a lifetime!
Make sure you are on the island by Good Friday morning or even better by Good Thursday evening so that you have time to rest from the journey. We recommend renting a car so that you can get around comfortably.
Good Friday
Start your morning with the magnificent view of the caldera at Fira. You don't have to do much. Find a good spot and sit down to enjoy your coffee with this unique view. After all, you don't see it every day! The ideal spot is Volcano on the Rocks in front of the Petros Nomikos Conference Center. It offers you the peace and quiet you need to “absorb” the Cycladic landscape.
Don't miss it. Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira. Unique in its kind with findings found in excavations mainly in Akrotiri but also in various parts of the island.
Take the path from Fira to Firostefani which will generously give you a unique sight ideal for photos. On the way you will come across the church of Agioi Theodoroi with the blue dome and the three bells, a classic postcard of the island. Walk to the chapel of Agios Georgios to see Skaros, which was the oldest and perhaps the most important of the five fortified settlements of Santorini. Today nothing remains. You will taste traditional flavors of the island at Aktaion, which has been operating with passion in the same location since 1922.
At noon, head to Emporio where the most beautiful and best preserved medieval Kasteli (castle) of Santorini is located. Usually, each Kasteli had a unique entrance. The entrance to the Emporio castle still exists today and the locals call it the “Door”. As soon as you pass through it, an eerie little labyrinth with alleys where one person can barely fit, opens up in front of you! On the side, stairs that climb almost vertically and lead to small landings, doors and windows. All the windows and doors of the houses looked into the interior of the castle so that the residents could be protected from pirates. You will truly travel back in time!
Near Kasteli is the Goula's tower a square-type fortification built during the period of Venetian rule.
In the afternoon, in Emporio or Nimporio, the bells are revived. The men of the village gather and bang metal objects as they pass through the neighborhoods, inviting fellow villagers to attend the funeral and to exorcise evil.
In the evening, get ready for the most “dramatic” scene you have ever seen! Epitaph to Kallistis TowerPerhaps if Zeffirelli had seen the scene that takes place every year in the village, he would have definitely chosen to film the famous film “Jesus of Nazareth” here…
Go up to the church of Panagia in the castle early. Don't follow the procession, though. Stay to see from above the spectacle of the local children lighting thousands of tin lamps. The place smells of myrrh, wax, and incense. The scenery is unreal! You can't get enough of it! Before leaving the village, stop on the road to enjoy it from afar.
Holy Saturday
Today is a tour day! Start early with a visit to the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri. There, the “Pompeii of the Aegean” and a civilization that was lost to the fury of nature will be revealed before you. The Minoan eruption (the second largest ever recorded) covered the city and the entire island with volcanic ash, protecting the buildings and their contents. You will encounter four-story houses, beds, amphorae, even cooking utensils. The space will captivate you. Nearby is the famous Red Beach with its unique volcanic palette of white, red, black.
In Santorini you will come across many wineries to visit. The volcanic vineyards make it one of the top wine destinations in the world. The most impressive in our opinion is the Venetsanos Winery, which has been operating since 1949. Built in a privileged position, above the bay of Athinios, it was designed to utilize gravity. There is a small museum on site, where you can see the methods of wine production in the past, while in the outdoor area you can taste the wonderful wines of Santorini with a unique view of the caldera.
Next stop is Vlychada. In this small seaside settlement there is a little gem! The Tomato Industrial Museum “D. Nomikos” offers a look back into the past, the traditional methods of the tomato growers of Santorini, old machines, but also the history of the place, the inhabitants and their traditions. Various events, art exhibitions, workshops are organized in the space throughout the year, a sample of the dynamic society of the island.
Don't forget to walk around παραλία of Vlychada where the volcanic formations are reminiscent of a lunar landscape! The salt, the wind, the waves and the passage of time have created a series of sand sculptures that you will not find anywhere else. And of course since you will be hungry, sit down to enjoy unique seafood delicacies at “Minnow", which in our opinion is one of the best taverns on the island.
With dusk approaching, all roads lead to the Oia! It is perhaps the most famous sunset in the world, for which people travel from all over the planet just to see it. The energetic vibes that the place gives off in combination with the vastness of the sea is something that cannot be described in words. You will experience scenes of mysticism… Make sure to go a little earlier so that you can find a place from where you can enjoy it.
On the night of Resurrection you will see it from the Monastery of Prophet ElijahIt is located at the highest point of the island, four kilometers from Pyrgos and has a privileged view. And you will need to get there early as everyone flocks to see the fireworks that appear from every settlement and church on the island!
After Easter and after you have made sure to book a table, try the sgardoumia, which is the traditional food in the Cyclades and is essentially a soup made from goat meat. The most suitable place for this is the Moon at the Kallistis Tower.
Easter Sunday
Since you're in Santorini for a few hours, make sure to make the most of this day! After all, on Easter Sunday in the Cyclades, tradition dictates that they don't skewer lamb, but rather a kid in the oven, either stuffed or garnished with potatoes.
What can you do?:
– Walk the well-marked path that connects Imerovigli to Oia. Spring sweetens the rugged face of the caldera, filling it with wildflowers.
– Get lost in the narrow streets of beautiful Oia, which, whether it is day or night, will generously give you a unique photographic canvas! This well-preserved, picturesque settlement is a favorite destination for artists and lovers. Beyond the castle, ask about the Sideras neighborhood, with its impressive captain's houses.
– Descend the steps to the picturesque village of Ammoudi, whose buildings served as warehouses for goods. In the past, sailing ships loaded the island’s products – including the famous Santorini wine Vinsanto – here for Russia and other countries.
– Visit cave houses. These are domed buildings dug into the rock without foundations, with a narrow facade and great depth, made with materials from the Theraean land. They are scattered everywhere with a view of the caldera.
– After the Vespers of Love, the “Burning of Judas” is revived in most villages. In Perissa and elsewhere, they make an effigy representing Judas, fill it with barrels and hang it from a high point where they shoot it.
– Don't forget to visit the other villages of Santorini. The cave-like Vothonas, the oriental Finikia, and the airy Megalochori have a different natural beauty, outside the classic Cycladic standards.
A special experience!
This tip that I am giving you you will not find in any guide and is for a few… In Megalochori in an old kanava (winery) the artist Yannis Pantazis has created a workshop – cultural center that offers a unique experience that combines music and mythology. The Symposium by la Ponta is a musical journey through time that will captivate you! In about 45 minutes, you will be introduced to the musical instruments of the Greeks during the Homeric period, you will hear primordial sounds, you will learn how a flute, a tsambouna, etc. are made, while in its café-wine bar you will relax with traditional Greek tea varieties and local wines and beers. We have no words to describe how much you will enjoy this unique experience, which we have certainly not encountered anywhere else!
What will you try?
The well-known cherry tomatoes with the special taste. Split peas, because here they make it the traditional way. Melitinia, an Easter dessert, with mizithra cheese and sugar. Caper, with a soft silky taste. White eggplant, which has a sweet taste and few seeds. Chlorotiri cheese, a creamy goat cheese, which you will only find in select places. The wines of Santorini. Nykhteri, Visanto, Brusko and Assyrtiko, thanks to the unique ecosystem and microclimate of the island, have made them the most sought-after in Greece and internationally.
Closing
A trip to Santorini is a lifetime experience in itself. At Easter, this experience becomes unique! The magic of the island combined with the blooming and at the same time wild landscape will give you mythical moments! The volcano, the stories and the legends will accompany you everywhere. The energy that you will take generously, will accompany you forever!
