Megalochori’s history can be traced back to the 17th century. Home to historical mansions, traditional houses and known as the heart of the wine lands. The village has a rich history of merchants and wealthy land barons exporting Vinsanto to Odessa in Russia.
The square is the heart and soul of the Megalochori, a gathering place for the locals to play a game of cards or ‘tavli’ – backgammon. Spiralling out in all directions is a maze of winding cobbled streets and pathways just waiting to be discovered.
Akrotiri - In Medieval times, Akrotiri was one of the 5 fortified settlements on the island. It is a village of great interest on the south west coast of Santorini. Apart from having some of the finest island views which reach as far as Oia, magnificent sunsets, wonderful fish taverns, quiet undeveloped beaches and tiny churches, it is also home to the Akrotiri Excavations and the a Castle in the centre of the village.
A drive to the light house is also worth while, which offers a different perspective on the island.
Perissa is a seaside village on the south east coast of Santorini with several kilometers of black sand beaches. Towering over the beach on the north side is the mountain of Mesa Vouno, the site of Ancient Thira. Perissa connects with Perivolos, and the collective area is the longest stretch of beach on the island. Both beaches are organized with beach bars, sun loungers, umbrellas, restaurants and taverns.
At the base of Mesa Vouno, one can find the ruins of the Basillica of Agia Irini. The building dates back to the 5th century, while evidence of a second construction period during the 2nd half of the 6th century was discovered in 1992. The completion of the excavation of the site will take several more years.
Kamari is a cosmopolitan beach resort on the south east side of the island, which has recently been awarded the Blue Flag Award. The long stretch of beach lies under the impressive mountain of Mesa Vouno. The water is deep, clear & blue, the sand black and there are lifeguards on duty. A stone paved promenade for strolling that runs parallel to the beach stretches across the bay. Kamari offers a wealth of café’s, bars, restaurants, shops as well as a lively nightlife.
Thirassia is the unspoilt island, which once formed part of Santorini. From the moment that you dock at Riva, you feel as if the clock has been turned back 30 years. The first village you will come across on your journey is Potamos, the smaller of the island’s two villages. Tinted bell towers and brightly coloured houses add to the picturesque setting. Manolas is the main village and the larger of the two. Walking down its narrow lanes, the smell of home-cooked meals and washing hanging on the lines takes you right back to the 1950’s on the islands!
The villages seem deserted, which adds to the appeal to explore further. The people of Thirassia live in a wholly different world than the people ‘from across’. No much seems to have changed since the days when most worked for the Nomikos’ ships, and people closed shutters across the windows the moment they spotted ‘a foreigner’! During the winter months the island is inhabited by about 200 locals. The permanent residents are mainly subsistence farmers and fishermen. There is hardly any tourism on the island and the few rooms that are available are usually used by relatives of local people visiting from the main land.
For the moment the tourist boats dock in the old harbour at Korfos. There are a few taverns to enjoy a light meal. The only way up from the old harbour to the main town is by foot or donkey. The DVD in the villa “A Small Crime” was filmed on Thirasia. Worth Watching!