The steep gorge shapes Vothonas. Houses carved into the rock, courtyards and narrow lanes give the village its architectural character. This is a specific local consideration when choosing a holiday rental: Vothonas can be understood in terms of its terrain and building style.

Panagia Trypa on foot

Panagia Trypa is accessible only on foot, via a path that begins in the centre of Vothonas. The walk takes five to ten minutes and passes between volcanic rock and dry-stone walls. When planning, you can allow for this as a short walk; check local conditions before setting out.

Santorini in the wider context

To put Vothonas in context, it is also worth looking at Santorini as a broader travel destination. Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades, an island group shaped by a landscape with active volcanoes. Santorini’s caldera was formed by a massive eruption around 1600 BC. These offer two complementary perspectives: in Vothonas, the gorge and the village’s layout define its immediate character, while the caldera and volcanoes form the wider geological context of Santorini.

Culture across Santorini

Santorini’s cultural attractions also extend beyond individual villages. Akrotiri preserves remarkably well-preserved Minoan frescoes and buildings that were buried under volcanic ash. Pyrgos was designated a protected settlement in 1995. The ecclesiastical collection of Pyrgos, housed at the Profitis Ilias Monastery in Pyrgos, opened as a permanent exhibition in August 1997. Santorini therefore brings together different cultural highlights: archaeological remains in Akrotiri, and settlement history and an ecclesiastical collection in Pyrgos.

Hiking and watersports on Santorini

Hiking trails connect Pyrgos with Profitis Ilias, Emporio and Ancient Thera. Activities on Santorini’s southeast coast include sailing, kitesurfing and parasailing, along with views of the Aegean Sea. The named hiking routes and watersports options offer different ways to plan a trip to the wider destination.

Events on Santorini

Santorini Experience is organised every year by the Municipality of Thira, its Department of Culture and Sports, and Active Media. The Ifestia Festival takes place on the third Saturday in September and depicts the volcanic eruption with fireworks. If an event date matters to your travel plans, check the dates and programme for the year of your trip.

Food across Santorini

Santorini Fava is a product with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L. It grows exclusively in the volcanic soil of Thera. Santorini tomatoes also have a Protected Designation of Origin and have been cultivated since the early 19th century. The white Santorini eggplant has a sweet aroma and juicy flesh that does not absorb oil when fried. Chloro is a creamy goat’s cheese produced in very limited quantities on Santorini. Local chefs also make tomato fritters called tomatokeftedes using PDO cherry tomatoes. These products add a culinary perspective on Santorini as a whole to your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Karterados, Agia Theodoti, Akrotírion, Vourvoulos, Psathi, Pyrgos, Mesariá, Kamari

Return to the main travel guide: Santorini.