First time visiting Santorini or "Thera" as the locals call it was this June with my girlfriend and I would like to share my experience with everyone.
Santorini or Thera is now essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island, and created the current geological caldera. A giant central, rectangular lagoon, which measures about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4.3 mi), is surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high, steep cliffs on three sides
Kaldera
First of all the climb. Starting from the New Port climbing to the top of the Island you can't stop but admire the breathtaking view of this place. As you move in the inside of the island you enjoy the vineyards and Wine houses that accommodate the unique flavors of the island.
Local Vineyards
We stayed in Karterados just 10 minutes away from the main "town" of the Island or "Chora"(country) as Greeks call all the central places of their Islands.
The island although small is filled with many places to visit, views to enjoy and food or wine to taste. The first place we visited to eat was called "Metaxy mas" and even though most of the places in the island are very expensive to visit this restaurant at "Exo Gonia" had a great view and amazing food in a very good price!
"Metaxy mas - Exo Gonia"
The local tastes of the island include white eggplants, small tomatoes, fava, tomato meatballs( tomatoes with vegetables) amazing sea food and local wines.
"Tomato meatballs & Oysters"
"Fava"
The beaches of Santorini although not as beautiful as the most beaches of the Aegean Island's are very old and have a history. Due to the fact that Santorini sits around and active volcano everything around the island was influenced from the eruptions.
The island hosts beaches like the White beach, the Red Beach and the Black beach. Every beach has it's own distinct color of rocks and sand that make the scenery unique. That is due to the fact that along the ages with every eruption different kind of rocks and sand from the earth's crust landed around the island forming today's beaches.
The Red beach
Perivolos Beach offers a nice place next to the beach for a swim and many restaurants to eat.
Of course visiting the island meant that we had to view the unique sunset of Oia, which Greeks say is the best view of a sunset in whole of Greece!!!
Santo wines - One of the best wine tasting places in the Island with wines up to 12 years aging.
My love <3 !
Vising Kaldera with the breathtaking view for a coctail.
Vising the island of course without visiting the volcano would be such a waste , wouldn't it?
By taking a small boat you can climb the volcano and swim inside the healing waters that are made from the sulfur that rise up to the surface from the earth's crust.
On the boat
"The climb"
"The crater" ( she thought she would see lava flowing outside xD)
You can see the steam coming out from the sulfur gapes, the smell is strong and the ground is hot from the lava burning thousands of meters underneath.
The sulfur healing waters
Last but not least we cannot forget the long and amazing history this island has. Santorini was one of the earliest settlements of the ancient Greek states. In 3000 BC the island had 30.000 permanent inhabitants in the ancient town of Akrotiri. There now stands an excavation site well preserved , that you can see what the town looked like.
Akrotiri
But apart from the excavation site we also visited the Museum that all the fragments and art of that Bronze period are held.
"A flower in a vase with it's colors still remaining intact after 3.000 years!!!! "
"Official Seals"
And this is my favourite one, it sends chills down my spine every time I see it....
The fisherman of Akrotiri is one of the most recognized paintings from the Bronze period and the rise of the Greek States, this painting is dated back to the 1650 BC and is narrating a young boy's daily work , going down to the beach and fishing in order to provide for his family, the colors and details are simply "stunning" .
I would suggest for everyone to visit the island of Santorini and enjoy the unique experiences it has to offer, with your partner , your friends of family it has so many things to do and enjoy, it's truly an amazing place.