Enjoy the beaches and the food in Santorini
3 min read
One visit is never enough to enjoy Santorini with Santorini tours. To feel that you are conversing with God in the Caldera, to dive into the seas born by the volcano, to taste the deliciousness of the products of the volcanic land, to find you in the morning without even realizing it in Fira, to feel the means high quality of services provided. We, however, made our annual pilgrimage a few days ago.
If you are going to Santorini for the first time, it is almost certain that you will be captivated by the magic of the Caldera. The scenery is unique in the world, and so is the electrifying atmosphere it exudes. However, if you too are already in love with the island of the volcano and systematically follow its evolution, we catch up with you with the latest news, which makes us optimistic about the future of the tourist infrastructure, but at the same time indignant that things still happen on such an island.
We love that good hotels take off year after year, but we are angry that rooms are growing like mushrooms where the vines used to grow. We enjoy the flavors of Caldera’s restaurants, which get better every year, but we are indignant that to get to their door we have to cross the anarchy of the central streets of Fira. We are pleasantly surprised to discover a new spa on the outskirts of the Castle of Oia, but we regret that the once atmospheric main street has started to resemble Fira, with the tourist folklore hiding the selected ethnic shops.
Beaches
Although Santorini does not have the classic Cycladic beaches with semolina sand and blue waters, its shores have a special “color” and options for every style. Perivolos maintains the title of the most secular beach, with beach bars, good fish restaurants and nice black shiny pebbles.
The once alternative Vlychada, with its trademark white rocks that create strange formations, is the fastest growing beach. On the long, touristy beach in Kamari, you will find hotels, restaurants, etc. Perissa is also a classic choice, with fine sand, beach sports and a youthful atmosphere. A few kilometers further on, Monolithos, with its fine sand and shallow waters, remains a low-key family beach. The most northerly and windswept Kolumpos, near Oia, with fine pebbles and a large rock to offer natural shade, is the best proposal for more alternative situations.
Neighboring tiny Pori, Baxedes, Vourvoulos and Katharos are some of the more off-the-beaten-path options on the same side of the island. Towards Akrotiri, apart from the much-photographed Kokkini and Aspri (accessible on foot or by boat), which are mainly preferred by foreign visitors, there are also some off-road options for those looking for peace.
Gastronomy – local products
The volcano endowed Santorini with a special range of local products and wines. Vegetables that thrive in this volcanic soil (dry tomatoes, white eggplants, midget zucchinis) acquire a dynamite flavor. The fava beans stand out, which after the efforts of the Santo cooperative was registered as a PDO product, the tomato, for which a registration request has also already been submitted, and the capers. The restaurants of Santorini are a model for the entire Greek area, making use of local products with a creative spirit.
The quality wine O.P.A.P. Santorini is today considered the most characteristic and interesting Greek white in foreign markets. The healthy competition of the local wineries led Santorini wine, dry, Vinsanto or even the previously unknown Mezzo (semi-sweet) and red from Mavrotragano or Mandilaria to become the “diamonds” of experts and the consumer public.
However, apart from being a separate wine-producing area of Greece of particular interest to wine lovers, as a travel destination Santorini is ideal for getting to know the world of wine, since many of its wineries can be visited, with special tastings, sales and old canvases (the characteristic underground wine cellars and wineries of the island).
Also a characteristic image that you will see while driving to the island are the vines, the “baskets” formed by the vines due to the pruning that protects them from the north winds and clouds of dust and sand.