Traditional Villages Santorini

The tour of the villages starts in the afternoon and the first stop is Messa Gonia. Messa Gonia is a village in the interior of the island, 8 klm far from Fira at the southeast, on the way to Kamari. The village suffered from the earthquakes of 1956 and was partly abandoned by its residents who settled to Kamari.

It is a traditional village, surrounded by vineyards, and is also one of the major wine production centers of the island. Then we move to Pyrgos. An inland village built on the slope of the mountain Profitis Ilias, Pyrgos is situated 7,5 klm far from Fira, at the southeast, and has 730 permanent residents.

The houses are arranged amphitheatrically, surrounding the remains of the Venetian castle (today known as “kasteli”), offering a magnificent view. With its traditional architecture, remnants of neo-classical mansions, narrow winding paths leading up the hillside, small white houses, galleries, vineyards, churches and breathtaking sunsets, Pyrgos is truly magical.

The tour ends in Oia where you’ll be able to admire the sunset.  Oia, pronounced ‘Ia’, is the most famous of all villages of Santorini. It is a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches, and sun-bathed verandas.

Its streets have plenty of tourist shops, taverns, cafés, and other shops. It is known throughout the world for its quiet life and fantastic sunset, and it’s certainly the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini. The village is also situated on the north of the island, 11 km away from Fira, on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia, over the volcano.