Are any parties in Greece, and you want to diamartyritheis for commercialization, excessive tourism and economic exploitation which touches - when not beyond the bounds of-aischrokerdeias, to capture the natural beauty as much as needed to forget everything from the crowds of tourists strimochnontai around you to admire the magnificent view to the fact that the coffee enjoy the pliroses as a cheap champagne.
This is the case of Santorini. Particular every corner, famous all over the world, captivating all times and all hours of the day, filled with people who admire each and probably unlikely point.
What if everything available in "tourist" prices, what if the cobbled streets of becoming inaccessible from the crowds of tourists who flood, what if these crowds overcome by the inexplicable desire to applaud when the sun dyei? The price is low face of so much beauty.
Particularly in autumn, when the price has eased somewhat - but not eliminated-paying position at a more serene days and nights, Santorini is the ideal destination or large - why not? - And assist small.
Arriving on the island, as the ship nears port, her eyes turning successively to the so-called "land later in the Mediterranean", the islands of Caldera, created by successive eruptions of the volcano on Santorini given characteristic, wild beauty, and vertical cliffs rising imposingly above the port.
Ascending to the island's capital, Fira, the environment landscape not proideazei to a minimum for what will follow. Black and red rocks to cut away, creating a seliniako landscape interrupted only by the magnificent views of the caldera.
The very capital of Santorini has declared "the most beautiful city in Greece" - and the only injustice characterization is the term "city". Literally hanging on the cliffs rising in the caldera, faithful to the traditional Cycladic style, with katalefka homes, churches with blue domes, narrow cobbled streets paved and the district with the beautiful name of the Cyclades, Firostefani, Fira are rightly the main tourism attraction on the island.
Compendium of expression "the city that never sleeps", gathers many visitors throughout the day. Especially at night, as they are… the monopoly of night entertainment from the side of Caldera, Fira bustling with life. There is also a coincidence that one of the central streets is widely known as "the street of bars."
From the capital of Santorini, of course, we could be missing and all those purely "tourist" pictures, along with the applause of the sunset in Oia, have become synonymous with cult, now, the tourist industry of the island, such as gaidourakia, anekdiigita trimmed with accessories that anevokatevainoun ceaselessly the 570 steps up the old port, from where the boats start for the volcano, or the scales of the caldera-view-tavern, which invented the global originality choriatikis salad "one person" -- which revealed only after entering the shop.
On the northern side of Caldera, Ia not accidentally connected the name with the sunset. The first settlement of Greece declared preserved could not compare in beauty with nothing less than amazing to sunset. None of the individual elements that make up the magnificent picture of Ia could be isolated or be adequately described in words.
From the colorful buildings give a separate note to katalefko settlement, the Cycladic churches, classical music sounds from the café, which is needed so as not to "choke" the city until the windmills guards who stand above the village , Cobbled streets and stone-built ambient lighting, everything is in Oia as it takes to create this dream, almost paramythenia, atmosphere made famous around the world.
The other settlements and villages of Santorini anything but lacking in beauty. When you manage to ... apochoristeite the OIA, which is especially difficult for the first time, certainly pass from the so-called "balcony of Santorini", Imerovigli, which is skarfalomeno at the highest point of Caldera and Vothona, "asimo" village near the Messaria with yposkafa homes built into the ravine.
Compared with other Cycladic islands, beaches of the island is not impressed. Brilliant exception to the rule, of course, is the Red Beach, which is worth a visit even just to admire the unique landscape that has formed here volcanic eruption, even if the weather is not suitable for swimming.
Since, however, it rains on the island rarely, most likely visit the popular beaches organised Perissa and Kamari, which are tourist resorts, with countless tavernas, cafes and bars literally on the beach. If you are not fan of the triptych umbrella - xaplostra - fresh fish on the beach, prefer the nearby beaches in Oia, such as Baxedes, Koloumpos and Pori. Can dyskolefteite little to locate, and not easily distinguished from the road, but the search is worth it.
Accommodation
On Santorini, there are many options, from rented rooms at low prices until polytelestates suites with breathtaking views of the Caldera.
Two of the best choices of residence are the boutique hotel La Maltese, in Imerovigli, which provides, inter alia, rooms and suites with private veranda and a splendid view of the Caldera, two swimming pools, spa and gourmet restaurant and hotel Perivolas in Oia, the benefits of which include swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, 24-hour room service and, of course, spectacular views from the balconies of the rooms. Prices start at 435 and 368 euros respectively.
Excellent proposal is the hotel Katikies, in Oia, which has rooms decorated with antiques and suites with private jacuzzi, veranda facing the sea. The benefits include, among others, two swimming pools, jacuzzi, a library with access to the internet, restaurants and bars. Prices for a double room start at 265 euros.
Food and fun
Like all highly developed tourist destinations, Santorini, culinary terms, has "kakotopies" - which, however, distinguished relatively easily, as reminiscent of the Plaka tourist tavernas. If they avoid, it is unlikely not eat well.
Two of the best options for lovers of fusion cuisine restaurants are in 1800 and Papagalo Ia. Gourmet tastes, not lose the Mediterranean leanings, stylato environment and impeccable service are the key characteristics. Both will cost about 30-35 euros per person, without wine.
More low profile, but with excellent cuisine, imaginative creations and beautiful environment, Strogili, also in Oia, also earns his impressions. Bonus the terraces that "see" Caldera and reasonable prices - around 20-25 per person.
If you prefer something more traditional, tavern Poseidon Fira serves homemade dishes in a beautiful garden, beneath the central square. Calculate approximately 15-20 per person.
For dessert, certainly in Melenio, Ia, for truly homemade, fresh pastries in the oven of "Peter the Xenychti" in Fira, for the best fresh ice cream and never tried to Creperie central square of Fira for sweet krepes pure sin .
For your coffee, there are three top choices on the island: the Tropical Fira, with the best view of the Caldera, the Meteor in Oia, with ambient lighting and the only decor in the mini garden and the Wet Stories in Perissa, multiple beds (!) in place of ... outdated, now kanapedon.
The club of the island is almost all concentrated in Fira - without, of course, that does not mean that if you want a drink in the Ia or Perissa you will not find a bar.
We xechorisame the Koo, for the beautiful yard, "correctly" kokteil and good mainstream music, Murphy's on air decoration and R'n'B directions and the Casablanca Soul, for the extraordinary environment that our traveled directly to Morocco.
The jazz bar Kira Thira often organizes live nights genuine jazz, while the popular Enigma stands out mainly for imaginative decoration and traditional architecture.
It is interesting to see:
* The wineries of the island, and particularly those of Boutari, Koutsogiannopoyloy, Sigala and Gavala, which offer tours on their premises and testing of exceptional wines.
* The only island in Cave Wine Museum, which housed the winery Koutsogiannopoyloy, and our tour in the history of santoriniou wine.
* The Archaeological Museum in Fira, which hosts sculptures, inscriptions, pots and other finds from the archaic until the Roman period.
* The Museum of the prehistoric Thera, also in Fira, with the unique findings prehistoric art.
* The ancient town of Thira, the site Mesa Mountains.
* The Navy Museum in Oia, a flashback to the naval tradition of the island from the 19 th century until today.
* The two islands of Caldera, Old and New Kameni, or else "the volcano", which is visited by boat starting from the old port of Fira and the Athinio.
* The monastery of Prophet Elias at the top of the homonymous hill and Kastelli, the medieval fortress of the island.
* The villages Tower
