Thira is another name for Santorini. Santorini is also the name given to the group of islands that surrounded Thira before a big volcanic catastrophe in about 1500 B.C.E.
The little island is home to a diverse range of scenery and communities. Visit the little community of Mesa Gonia, which has a mix of ruins from the 1956 earthquake and rebuilt homes, as well as a winery at the settlement’s foot. Pyrgos is another noteworthy inland hamlet with splendid ancient buildings, the remnants of a Venetian fortress, and many Byzantine churches.
There is no natural supply of fresh water on the island. Prior to the early 1990s, water had to be transported to the island by tanker from Crete. Most hotels and households, however, now have access to water supplied by a local desalination facility. While this water is drinkable, it is still somewhat salty, therefore most visitors to Santorini use bottled water.
Fira, the fiery capital, is a fusion of Venetian and Cycladic architecture, with white cobblestone streets bustling with stores, tavernas, hotels, and cafés while clinging to the rim of the caldera nine hundred feet above its harbor. If you arrive by water, you may take a cable car up from the dock or ride one of the hundreds of mules up the 588 zigzagging stairs. You may also try walking up the stairs, but be warned: they are twisting, tight in places with just low walls, covered with donkey dung, and the donkeys will not try to avoid you.
A twenty-minute walk down a trail will get you to Imerovigli, where you can take in the wonderful views of the island’s distinctive beauty from the little settlement.
The uniquely Santorinian town of Ia, sometimes written Oia, sits just above Fira at the highest point of the island, with its whitewashed walls dug into the volcanic rock and its blue domes soaring above the dazzling splendor of the magnificent, reddish Ammoudi Bay. At nightfall, the town draws large numbers of people who have come to view the sunset. Santorini’s sunsets, as seen from Oia, are said to be among the most magnificent in the world.
Many Greek musicians have selected Santorini as the backdrop for their films because of the island’s remarkable and one-of-a-kind natural beauty. Santorini has been featured in Greek and Brazilian television shows, as well as a few Hollywood films (e.g. Tomb Raider II). Santorini is a popular destination for Greek and worldwide celebrities.
