Calderas are large volcanic craters that are created after the eruption and the collapse of a Volcano! Santorini has one of the greater and most imposing calderas all over the globe! Most of  Santorini caldera is submerged due to the ferocity of the volcanic eruptions that have occurred there! Santorini caldera is the only inhabited caldera in The world as some of the most famous villages of the island are located there! Visiting Santorini caldera is a unique experience as you will have the chance to admire some spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and watch the famous Santorini Sunset. In this article we are going to help explore every inch of this breathtaking geological formation, giving you all the useful information about the caldera villages of Santorini! 

Oia

At the north part of the caldera you will find one of the most picturesque settlements of Santorini, Oia! Visiting Oia you will have the chance to explore magnificent sceneries that seem like they have been out of a postcard as the village is actually built on top of a cliff! 

Furthermore, in Oia you will see one of a kind landscapes, which combine the blues and whites of the traditional buildings with some elegant pink and ochre elements, creating a beautiful canvas that merges harmonically with the famous Santorini Sunset. Once you are in Oia, you should definitely pay a visit to the Venetian Castle of Agios Nikolaos! This is the most famous place to watch the sunset, as it offers a panoramic view of the island! From there you can go down the stone-built stairs in order to visit the Ammoudi bay and admire its breathtaking red beach! There you can also enjoy some delicious food, served at the taverns next to the beach! 

Fira

Fira is actually the capital of Santorini and combines in a unique way tradition, cosmopolitan influences and natural beauty. The town of Fira is settled on the western edge of Santorini caldera and is easily accessible by car as it is only 6km away from the Airport of Kamari and 13km away from Athinios Port. 

When you get to Fira, you should definitely visit the archaeological museum of Thera which is a great place for those who are keen on history and wish to become acquainted with the ancient past of Santorini. The exhibits of the museum are divided into three collections. The first one includes sculptures from the Archaic to the Roman Period. The second one exhibits inscriptions dating from the Archaic to the Roman Period along with pottery and clay figurines from the Geometric to the Hellenistic era.

Firostefani

Firostefani, is actually a different settlement of Fira, although many think of it as an extension of the island’s capital. Located on the north part of Santorini Caldera in a walking distance from Fira is actually a great option for those who want to take a break from the crowds of the capital and admire the spectacular view of the azure sea, relaxing at one of the many cafes of Firostefani settlement!

Imerovigli

Imerovigli is one of the most popular Santorini destinations, specially for couples, as there settles Skaros Rock, a medieval Venetian castle, which is considered being one of the most romantic places of Santorini, as many wedding ceremonies have been conducted there!  

Although Imerovigli is a small settlement of nearly 500 permanent residents, it is a lively village during summer, with plenty of restaurants, cafes and accommodation options that span from luxury hotels to small traditional settlements. Finally, if you choose to stay in Imerovigli apart from enjoying a spectacular view of Santorini caldera, you will also have easy access to the cosmopolitan life of the capital as Fira is only 3.5km away!

Things to do in Santorini Cadera

If you want to admire Santorini caldera through some exciting alternative activities, we definitely recommend you to hike the path from Oia to Fira, in order to admire the island’s unique environment, besides the spectacular caldera views. The path is about 10km long but is quite easy to hike, so there is no need to be super athletic in order to enjoy this beautiful experience.  Moreover, If you are more of a sailing type, you should definitely take one of the boat tours around Santorini caldera in order to admire up close its unique geological formation!

Santorini caldera is one of the most beautiful places in the world and we hope that in this article we gave you some pretty good reasons why you should absolutely visit it!

 

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