colors of santorini

Discover the True Colors of Santorini

by Sharon Miller

Considered to be one of the most photographed places in the world, the island of Santorini is a tourist Mecca. Its main town of Fira could almost be compared to an average sized, U.S. city, The white washed walls of Santorini overlook the Aegean Sea. with its world-class restaurants, high end shopping, after hours nightlife and street clogging traffic. That is if you can ignore the fact that the town is perched perilously on the edge of a cliff, with white washed buildings and cobblestone streets and a view of an active volcano. Unfortunately, the crowded streets of Fira are the only thing that most tourists see. Nevertheless, scattered throughout the island are smaller, quieter and quainter villages, miles of untouched beaches and several wineries that produce a distinctly Greek wine. Once you leave the crowded streets of Fira, you will discover the true colors of Santorini.

In order to easily navigate the island, my family and I rented four-wheelers and decided to explore Red Beach first, located on the south west corner. We had actually heard about the beach from a friendly Australian on the island of Fologandros. “It’s the best beach on the island,” he told us. We headed south down the main road of the island, staying to the right at any forks we crossed. The island is fairly easy to navigate, as long as you have a good map, because there are not many roads. There is one main road that runs north-south on the western side of the island, and then there are several that criss-cross east to west. As we neared the most south-westerly point of Santorini, a sign beckoned us to explore the ancient ruins of Akrotiri.

Excavations of the site began in 1967 under the direction of Professor Spyridon Marinatos. Akrotiri, it was discovered was one of the most important prehistoric settlements in the region. Nevertheless, a volcanic eruption in the late 17th century B.C. covered the thriving city in ash and, it is believed, put an end to the Minoan empire. Although only a fraction of the city has been uncovered, the half-hour walk through the ruins is well worth it. You will learn a lot The red, gray and black cliffs loom over Red Beach. of history of the area, and also a little bit of legend, as some scholars believe that legend of Atlantis actually refers to the civilization at Akrotiri and the volcanic eruption.

After our detour, we got back on the road and continued on to Red Beach. Only a few minutes from Akrotiri, you will find a large parking lot. This is where you must leave your vehicle. The short hike around the huge cliffs is not difficult, nevertheless, it is advisable to wear some sort of hiking shoes. My pull on sandals did not quite cut it. As you come around the final bend, the view is spectacular. A tall, red, black and gray cliff looms over a beach comprised of mostly blood red pebbles. If the sun hits it just right, the cliff and beach shimmer a brilliant red, however, when a shadow covers the area it delves into a dark blue or black. On the beach, built into the cliffside are two snack bars, with bathrooms, that serve just about anything you could need on the beach. They even provide chairs in which to sit and relax.

On the Eastern side of the island, the black beach of Kamari is a must see. The town of Kamari seems to be the antithesis to that of Fira. Although it is obvious that it is a tourist town, and I imagine in high-season it fills with travelers, at the end of May, it was all but deserted. Cafes and souvenir shops lined the boardwalk that ran along the beach. Walking along, you could stop and sit at any of the restaurant and be waited on in less than a minute. They all served traditional Greek food, as well as, pizza and some very tasty cocktails. Large, smooth, black stones covered the beach and on this slightly cool day it was a perfect place to relax. Warmed throughout the day by the sun, laying on the stones was similar to getting a back massage. The warmth radiated through my body and caused me to instantly doze off.

After awaking from my slumber, it was time to head back north, towards Fira. Nevertheless, there was one more stop on our list, the town of Oia, nestled on the most north-westerly point of the island, which claims to have the best views of the Caldera. Hopping back on the four-wheelers, we cruised through the serene beauty of the vineyards, back through the chaos of Fira and aro This blue-domed church has become one of the icons that represent Santorini. und the northeastern side of the island. Looking down from our vantage point, high up on the cliff again, it looked as if farmland lay below. What they were farming, I’ll never know, but the patchwork of green and brown was a beautiful sight.

The town of Oia seemed to be a quieter version of Fira. A series of restaurants, shops, homes and apartments seemingly carved from the cliff. A collage of staircases, rooftops, balconies and windows, most painted a brilliant white, some softer pastels, all with accents of deep-sea blue. It is here that you will find the white church, with is blue domed roof and black cross, that has become the icon of Santorini and like all tourist before you and all tourist after you, you will lean out over the edge and try to snap the picture that will forever epitomize the perfection of this island.

No matter where your explorations may take you, it is impossible to go wrong. From the blood-red of Red Beach, to the black stones of Kamari, to the unblemished white and deep blue of Oia, the colors of Santorini will mesmerize you too.

**All Photos By Don Miller

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