Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
period. Starting from Períssa a stony shadeless path to the site passes a chapel dating
back to the fourth century AD before skirting round to the Temenos of Artemidoros
with bas-relief carvings of a dolphin, eagle and lion representing Poseidon, Zeus and
Apollo. Next, the trail follows the sacred way of the ancient city through the remains of
the agora and past the theatre. The path meets the paved road to Kamári at a saddle
between Mésa Vounó and Profítis Ilías, the only remaining visible components of the
pre-eruption landscape.
6
INFORMATION
THE EAST COAST
Activities
Kamári is the base of Navy's Diving Centre
(
T
22860 31006,
W
navys.gr), which offers PADI courses
for beginners and volcanic reef diving for certified
divers.
ACCOMMODATION
Ì
Chez Sophie
Kamári
T
22860 32912,
W
chezsophie.gr.
A stunningly designed boutique hotel
with large rooms set around a swimming pool towards the
southern end of the beach. Superb service that includes
free wi-fi, parking, free air and ferry transfer
s, pl
us a
delicious home-made buffet breakfast. May-Oct.
€90
Ostria
Kamári
T
22860 31727,
W
villaostria.gr.
A
friendly, family-run oasis of studios and apartments at the
foot of Mount Profítis Ilías that stands in pleasant contrast
to the reso
rt's m
any large hotel blocks. Parking available.
April-Oct.
€100
Perissa Beach
Períssa
T
22860 81343.
Right behind the
coastal road, this campsite has plenty of space and shade,
but is also next to a couple of noisy late-night bars, but if
you choose to stay here you are more likely to be carousing
rather tha
n re
sting. Has special overflow space for sleeping
bags only.
€9
Rose Bay Hotel
Kamári
T
22860 33650,
W
rosebay.gr.
A less pricey option than other luxurious hotels in the north
part of town, with a pleasant pool setting, set back from
the beach.
Sing
le rooms are as big as the doubles, too.
April-Oct.
€120
EATING AND DRINKING
Kamári is the centre of nightlife in the east coast: the best of the bars are towards the southern end of the beach offering
staggered happy hours 8pm-midnight, and there is a good open-air cinema at the north end of the town, which is licensed
and offers cocktails and drinks at reasonable prices during the film.
Kritikos
Kamári
T
22460 4170.
A taverna much
frequented by locals, this is one of the better grill places
to eat on the island (mains €15). It's a long way out of
Kamári on the road up to Messariá, and too far to walk,
but
Mistral
Kamári
T
22860 32108,
W
www.mistral
-fishtavern.gr.
Set in a quiet alley with tables in a large,
tree-covered garden, this is rumoured to offer the best
lobster spaghetti on the island (€30-40 for a platter for
two). Also try the tomato salad with caper leaves, a
Santoríni special.
April-Nov daily noon-late.
the
bus
stops
outside.
April-Nov
daily
noon-midnight.
THE WINERIES
Some of Santoríni's most important
wineries
are scattered around Pýrgos and the south, and
offer excellent-value tours. Whichever tour you go on, none is complete without a taste of
Santoríni's prized dessert wine,
vinsánto
(reminiscent of the Tuscan
vin santo
), which is
among the finest wines produced in Greece and used by the Orthodox Church in Holy
Communion. Tour prices at the smaller wineries usually include tastings, while samples are
available from the larger wineries for a nominal fee.
Boutari
Just out of Megalohóri
W
boutari.gr.
This is
the Santorini branch of one of the largest wineries of
Greece with an exceptional Estate Argyros Vinsanto,
named Best Greek Wine 2009.
Canava Roussos
volcanwines.gr.
The best-known winery, it has a
300m-long cellar that's home to a wine museum
offering a more intimate glimpse at the wine-making
process (April-Oct daily noon-8pm; €4 includes
tasting; on Fri evenings there are buffet meals with
Greek dancing).
Santo
Near Pýrgos. April-Nov, 10am-sunset;
W
santowines.gr.
Offers the most comprehensive
tours (€2-3), complete with multimedia presentations.
W
canavaroussos.gr.
Making wines since 1836, this is one of the most
traditional Greek family wineries producing a famed
white called Nyktéri. May-Oct.
Koutsoyannopoulos
Episkopí
W
Just
outside
Kamári
