Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
open, you can pop in for a gander and buy some of the lip-smacking wares. There's also
an outlet in Ormos.
Ios is well known for its beaches. Vying with Mylopotas for first place is
Manganari
, a
long swathe of fine white sand on the south coast, reached by bus or by caïque in sum-
mer.
Agia Theodoti
has the bluest of blue water and is favoured by Greek families in the
summer. Nearby
Psathi
is quieter, with a popular taverna and is an ace windsurfing ven-
ue.
SANTORINI (THIRA) ΣΑΝΤΟΡΙΝΗ (ΘΗΡΑ)
POP 12,440
Santorini may well have conquered a corner of your imagination before you've even set
eyes on it. With multicoloured cliffs soaring over 300m from a sea-drowned caldera, it
rests in the middle of the indigo Aegean, looking like a giant slab of layered cake. The is-
land spoons the vast crater left by one of the biggest volcanic eruptions in history. Smal-
ler islands curl around the fragmented western edge of the caldera, but it is the main is-
land of Thira that will take your breath away with its snow drift of white Cycladic houses
lining the cliff tops and, in places, spilling like icy cornices down the terraced rock.
When the sun sets, the reflection on the buildings and the glow of the orange and red in
the cliffs is spectacular.
Santorini is no secret and draws crowds for most of the year, yet it wears its tourism
well and its offerings make it worth the bustle. The island's intrigue reaches deep into the
past, with the fascinating Minoan site of Akrotiri and the gorgeous traditional hilltop vil-
lage of Oia. It also glides effortlessly into the future with accomplished artists, excellent
wineries, a unique brewery, and some of the Cyclades finest dining experiences. The
sandy, multicoloured beaches are simply the icing on the cake.
