Vothonas - island Santorini

The resort of Vothonas lies in a deep valley in the central part of the interior of the Greek island of Santorini. The village of the same name boasts interesting architecture and beautiful traditional churches. The distance between the resort and the main town of Fira is about 4 km.

Santorini, Vothonas on the map Google maps

The village of Vothonas is situated in a depression and on the slopes of a steep valley, which the local architecture had to cope with. Most of the houses here have been carved directly into the rocks, making them truly unique and, together with the surrounding green countryside, a beautiful spectacle. The area is also famous for its vineyards and wine-making tradition. You can visit the Wine Museum, located in a cave six metres underground. You will watch a documentary about wine production, see interesting exhibits and, of course, taste the delicious local wine.

In the village you will find several churches and chapels of interesting location and appearance. At the bottom of the village is the church of Agios Roussos, built on a rock made of pumice stones. Another remarkable building is the church of Agia Anna, the oldest church of the village (from 1827) with a beautiful pebble courtyard. The church also houses a beautiful carved wooden plaque on which scenes from the Old Testament are artistically depicted. And just outside the village is the unique church of Panagia Sergena, carved out of a large volcanic rock, which also served as a refuge in the past. And if you still have some energy left, you can hike (about 20 minutes) to the beautiful chapel of Panagia Trypa, perched on the edge of the cliff.

Vothonas is a bit of a hidden spot, away from the main tourist interest that goes to the island's famous seaside resorts. But it's worth at least making a trip here. You can stay in one of the nice hotels and guesthouses. Near Vothonas are the other beautiful inland villages of Messaria and Karterados, where you can also stop on your way inland.

We definitely recommend visiting the nearby capital city of Fira, with its beautiful examples of Cycladic architecture and a wide range of shopping and entertainment options. If you want to enjoy the sea and beaches, head to Kamari, for example, with its eponymous beach covered in black volcanic sand. South of Kamari is one of Santorini's most beautiful beaches, Perissa.