FIRA, Fira

Here we are in Fira, the splendid capital of Santorini, the main residential and tourist center on the island. This typical settlement was built on the edge of a cliff over 250 meters high, with white-washed houses that stand out against the dark volcanic rock typical of the island. 

Spread over many levels, Fira is divided into a number of neighborhoods that you can explore by wandering up and down the steps of the narrow lanes. The earliest buildings date to the beginning of the 19th century, when the presence of pirates in the Aegean Sea began to decline and the population of the island rose. Many of the buildings you can see were rebuilt following a violent earthquake in 1956.

One of the main features of the town are the narrow lanes, many of them with steps. One of them has about 580 steps that will take you down to the old port. Don’t worry, it’s not particularly tiring on the way down, and – especially on the way back up – you can take the efficient cable car, or a ride on one of the many donkeys....