Santorini days are bookmarked by some of the most majestic sunrises and sunsets I have ever seen. During the ten marvelous days we spent on this legendary Greek island, our sole task was to decide how to spend the time in between.
And so we filled our agenda with a Santorini cooking class, learning how to make cold tomato soup with cheese “ice cream” and fava.
We swirled glasses of Santorini’s mineral-rich Assyrtiko and Athiri wine; and in hot springs, we washed off the volcanic soil we’d picked up on our feet during a visit to Nea Kameni, a volcano that is still active.
We also made Greek-inspired meals in our studio apartment, strolled through quieter villages like Firostefani and Imerovigli, and learned about Santorini’s fascinating history through visits to the Akrotiri archaeological site and prehistoric museum, which houses finds from Akrotiri. (Akrotiri is known as the “Minoan Pompeii” and predates Pompeii by more than 1,500 years.)
When we awoke on Santorini the first morning, the sight from our balcony was stunning: a shrimp-colored sun slowly rising over the lavender Aegean. In this gentle light, we spotted the jagged lines of neighboring islands, which would soon be washed out by the intense light. There was also a lone boatmen out on the water. His vessel looked like a fleck of pepper, dwarfed by the vast sea. All was still and cool, and then the sun dramatically burst into tangerine hues so brilliant that we could no longer make eye contact with her.
As our time on Santorini was nearing its end, we found one of the island’s most iconic structures, the Agios Theodori Church in Firostefani.
Unlike the village Oia, where large droves of visitors flock to enjoy the sunset, Firostefani was subdued, making it the ideal locale to enjoy the magnificent panorama before us.
I will share more images and tales detailing all the wonderful in-betweens I described above soon, but for now I wanted to share with you Santorini at daybreak and at nightfall.
Sunrise
Sunset
Where in the World?
Planning Pointers:
- If you’ve read anything about where to go for Santorini’s legendary sunsets, you’ve probably heard that Oia is the best vantage point. We intended to see the sun begin its slumber there, however, as the appointed hour drew closer, the village became unpleasantly crowded, and too noisy for relaxing sunset viewing. We found the villages of Imerovigli and Firostefani to be delightful sunset destination alternatives, and were pleasantly surprised to find that even Firostefani’s regularly-photographed Agios Theodori Church was a quiet spot to take in the beautiful view.
- If you’re looking for a cozy studio apartment in Santorini, consider the Phaos Santorini Suites (formerly Rhapsody Apartments) in Imerovigli. We spent one week here. The owner, George, was helpful and friendly. He even shared delicious Santorini zucchini from his own garden with us. We loved the apartment’s quiet location. It was still a walkable distance to Fira, the island’s public transportation hub. The sunrise views from our balcony were extraordinary, too!
- Need more inspiration? This link contains an index of all my posts from Greece.
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
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