Fira, Santorini

Fira is the capital city of the island of Santorini which lies in the Cyclades Islands about 120 miles southeast of the mainland Greece. It is among the most beautiful of the Greek Isles and provides perched houses and views to witness the most extraordinary Aegean sunsets. The beaches of Santorini are breathtakingly beautiful and remarkably vary in color due to its volcanic geology. The town of Fira sits on the west side of the island atop the edges of a 260 meter high caldera cliff. Its year-around residential population is 1600. The climate is typically mild with cool summers and very mild winters, with nearly all the rain in the winter and little to none in the summer.

The Cyclades Isles are what still stands of the underwater caldera that once was one large cone-shaped Nea Kameni Volcano. After it erupted its top 3600 years ago and all that remained was the small scattered islands as they are today. Traces of this eruption in the form of pumis have been found as far as Egypt and the Nile Delta.Santorini was first so-named by the Venetians in the 13^th century and was settled by the Francs. Pyrgose had been the original capital seat until 1800. After a long period with numerous earthquakes the Catholics and the Venetian nobles abandoned the Castle of Skaros in Imerovigly in 1707 and 1711 and settled the present Fira location. After the great eruption of 1866 Fira was named the new capital city. In 1956 the whole island was hit, as well as part of the town of Fira destroyed by a 7.8 earthquake.

Water is imported and the running water that is available on the island is not potable. There are lots of earthquakes and volcanic activity and a shortage of wood. It is believed by many that the city of Atlantis is here somewhere and was sunk in the great eruption according to Plato. There is archaeological evidence to show that there was a somewhat advanced Minoan culture in the area. Evidence of up to three-story stone buildings with stair cases, storage bins, and both hot (volcanic heat) and cold running water have been found at the site of Akrotiri (Thera).

The inhabitants used to make a fortune on the pumice quarries but it started to eat too much in to the island and they were closed down. You can visit many wineries and taste lots of sorts of wines. Grapes are grown in abundance and thrive lively on the island. They also grow sweet tomatoes and fava beans, they make Chloro, a very tasty goat cheese. Presently the biggest market that Santorinans live on is Tourism.

There is no deprivation of entertainment in Fira. One can fancy the magnificent seascapes and sunsets or float the Aegis on a boat tour to the volcano or one of the other nearby islands. Feast with their hands at the largest shopping center in Santorini, (Theotokopoulou Square in Fira) or with their mouth at one of the many fancy restaurants or diners.

Be sure if you visit to sink your feet into the colorful sands and pebbled beaches on the eastern shore of the island. There is a black pebbled beach, a yellow-sand beach, a red beach, and a white-sand beach. Take a taxi to Pyrogos (the old captial) and visit one of the 33 churches in this historic little town. If you do take taxis just tell them where you want to go and most likely they can find their way around. There are no street names in Santorini. Stay in Fira if you like though, you don’t even have to leave, there are plenty of churches there and monasteries too! Get your exercise each day marching the stone steps up and down the cliff-side to the seashore or just sit upon a donkey if you wish and let him do all the work. Check out the displays at one of the many museums in town and pleasure in the Wall Paintings of Thira. If you are a music enthusiast it might be worth planning your trip in September to attend the classical music festival that takes place every year.

I have Researched many sites to provide a compact yet thorough description for you. These were my main sources...

(www.travel-to-santorini.com/place.php?place_id=3)

(www.santorini.com/villages/firatown.htm)

(www.greeka.com/cyclades/santorini/santorini-villages/fira-santorini.htm)

(www.portofira.gr)

(www.in2greece.com/english/places/summer/islands/santorini.htm)

(www.greece.org/poseidon/work/islands2/cyclades/santorini/id.html)

(www.santorini.com/santorinivolcano/volcaniceruptions.htm)

(www.fullscreen360.com/greece-oia)

(en.wikipedia.org)