Like a sultry lover waiting in repose, Santorini is the sparkling blue and white vision that is the paradigm of the ideal Greek Island to wallow on in decadent luxury. Sexy and sleek in its own skin of stark whitewashed buildings cascading down multi-coloured cliffs, the appeal is not just a visual feast for the eyes, but a wondrous world of myths and legends. Fanciful whispers involve a pregnant nymph who happened to be the daughter of Triton, the sea god, and the miraculous creation of an island from a clod of earth. Santorini was created 2 million years ago when epic volcanic explosions reshaped the earth’s surface and led to the sinking of the mythical city of Atlantis.
By day crystal clear water ebbs and flows over volcanic-sand beaches that fringe the dramatic caldera landscape. Churches are crowned with vivid blue domes and white crosses, while bougainvillea in various shades of rainbow colours elegantly drape ancient walls. Old rustic windmills stand like sentinels, wind veins creak in soft breezes, and donkey hooves clip-clop along the labyrinth of cobblestoned alleyways. An unbroken blue sky is a backdrop for lush infinity swimming pools, candy-striped deck-chairs litter sun-decks, and dozing cats recline in the sunshine on rough-hewn walls, under tables or in doorways. It’s never-ending blue hues in the distance wherever you gaze, lulling you into chill-out mode.
In the evenings, dazzling blood-red suns fall into the sapphire depths of the Aegean Sea, quaint fishing boats bob in the cyan hued bay, and slinking cats leave their sun-drenched terraces to stalk prey. The air is infused with salt, the scent of herbs and blooming wildflowers in the nearby hills.
Santorini’s seduction begins the moment you step foot on its ancient land. About halfway between Crete and Athens, the main commercial area of the island is nestled into the towering cliffs of Fira. Enchanting pathways littered with luxury hotels, contemporary restaurants, and chic boutiques lead to the nearby villages of Oia, Firostefani, and Imerovigli.
The southern end of the island is a cheaper option if you don’t own a suitcase stuffed with Gucci or Prada, but you will be some distance from the central hub. The more affordable east coast will have you lounging on black sand beaches, hanging out at the dramatic Red Beach, or perched on a stool at one of the many bars lining a promenade. The island’s heart, away from the caldera’s edge, is where you can linger away from the tourist hustle amidst traditional villages and vineyards.
Santorini is where you won’t want to share the food on your plate. With a growing foodie culture and the island’s penchant for creating delectable crisp, dry whites, Santorini is where you can linger for hours over a long lunch while basking in the sunshine. For a mouthwatering and decadent meal, head to the award-winning Selene Restaurant in the medieval village of Pyrgos, or try the culinary art flourishing at Koukoumavlos Restaurant in Fia. Walk the ancient pathway to Oia where you can perch on the edge of a cliff terrace surrounded by glistening azure water or under a star-studded ink-black night sky and taste the imaginative dishes of Lycabettus Restaurant.
For relaxing nights in, fill up the larder with local cheeses, olives, and rustic baked bread. Afternoons can be spent licking your fingers as they get smothered in melting gelato of the pistachio, chocolate, or stracciatella variety. You can put your nose against the glass showcase of one of the many traditional bakeries salivating over baklava, or head to a microbrewery and gulp down a few mouthfuls of creations with quirky names such as “Crazy Donkey.”
The most popular pastime is to take one of the many cruises around the caldera’s islands when you can leisurely chill out on the back of a boat or dip into the cold aqua waters when you feel like it. Leisurely walks in the late afternoon will give you plenty of postcard moments, and climbing the 588 steps up from the Old Port, will provide you with a view of the incredible cave houses hidden in the cliff-face.
July to August, prices soar, and tourist hordes invade Santorini like a plague of locusts, as this is peak tourist season. To get away from the crowds, you will have to hide in your amazing clifftop eyrie, especially during the day. Shoulder-seasons give you room to move (April to early June, late September and October), while a winter break will allow you to stay in a fantastic property without the golden price tag and the never-ending shuffle of tourist footsteps. The dramatic scenery is still picture-postcard perfect, even if you have to put on an extra layer of clothing.
Author: Gail Palethorpe
