Bordered by countless countries from Europe, Asia and Africa, the immense sea and all its islands have played a massive role in the history of Western civilization. Often boasting gorgeous scenery or crystal-clear waters, they’re the perfect place to relax and unwind in spellbinding settings. Here’s a look at the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean.
Piraeus 1.0 – We boarded Viking Sky at Piraeus port in Athens, so were in harbour over night. I began to notice the blueness and the ‘dome-i-ness’ of my surroundings. Acclimatising my eyes to the change in architecture from North Norfolk.
Still painting late into the night watching the the buildings turn into silhouettes and the blue mountains in the distance fade to smudges.
Koper, Slovenia – Tito Square in Koper has a strong Italian influence and even the language spoken here is part Italian and part Slovene. It was a capital city under the Venetian Republic. I couldn’t paint this journey without including a tourist photographing the magnificent architecture.
This was the sight that greeted us as we approached the Greek island of Santorini. Beautiful coloured buildings above what looked like cave entrances. The town sits on the top of what appears to be a giant rock and is reached by cable car, or donkey for the more intrepid.
Thera, Modern Greek Thíra, also called Santorin, or Santoríni, island, southernmost island of the Cyclades (Modern Greek: Kykládes) group, southeastern Greece, in the Aegean Sea, sometimes included in the Southern Sporades group. It constitutes a dímos (municipality) within the South Aegean (Nótio Aigaío) periféreia (region).
Geologically, Thera is the remaining eastern half of an exploded volcano. Its bow-shaped rim and the remnant isles of Thirasía and Aspronísi form an open lagoon that measures 37 miles (60 km) in circumference. In the centre of the lagoon are two active volcanic islets, Néa Kaméni (“New Burnt Island”) and Palaía Kaméni (“Old Burnt Island”). Thera proper consists largely of lava and pumice, the latter of which is the island’s main export. Red-wine grapes are also grown. The lagoon is rimmed by red-, white-, and black-striped volcanic cliffs rising to almost 1,000 feet (300 metres). The summit of Thera is the 1,857-foot (566-metre) limestone Mount Profítis Ilías in the southeast. The chief town, Thíra (locally called Firá), was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1956. Other settlements include Emboríon and Pírgos to the south and the port of Oía at the north entrance to the lagoon, which was destroyed by the 1956 earthquake.
The distance from Fira to Oia is around 10.5km (6.5 miles) one-way and this walk shows it in its entirety.. We start our walk in the afternoon in the capital town of Santorini Fira and finish in beautiful Oia around 2 hours later in time for sunset. The walking path passes by the towns of Firostefani (great sunset) and Imerovigli on the way to Oia which is the most picturesque town on the island.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
Santorini is the most spectacular island in Greece and one of the geologic treasures of Europe. Perched at the northern tip of this volcanic island and built into the rocky cliffside, Oia is the most picturesque and romantic village in Santorini.
Video Timeline Links: 00:00 – Oia, Santorini Walking Tour Intro 09:08 – Saint George Church (Agios Georgios) 19:37 – Virgin Mary Church (Panagia Platsani) 23:57 – Oia Blue Dome Viewpoint 33:17 – Castle of Oia (Agios Nikolaos) 34:17 – Oia Lookout Panoramic Viewpoint 44:30 – The Windmills
The village extends for almost 2 km (1.2 miles) along the northern edge of the caldera, at a height of between 70 and 100 m (230 and 330 feet) above sea level. It is built on the steep slope of the caldera and the houses and restaurants are built into niches carved into the caldera on the seaward side. Oia paths are very narrow and hence gets congested during the tourist season. The idyllic surroundings of the village have a complex of white washed, blue domed churches and charming, traditional Cycladic houses. Oia has some of the island’s best hotels and restaurants as well as high-end shopping. Our guided walking tour is about 1.86 miles (3 km) long, starts at Saint George Church (Agios Georgios) and covers most attractions and historic sites of Oia, Santorini.
Fira, or Thera is the capital of Santorini, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. The Museum of Prehistoric Thira displays items from the destroyed Bronze Age settlement of Akrotiri, including wall paintings and ceramics. Nearby, the whitewashed Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral has frescoes by local artist Christoforos Asimis. Fira’s clifftop location affords views of Nea Kameni, a still-active volcanic island to the west.
Greece is one of those magical places, filled with hundreds of exotic islands and archipelagos boasting extraordinary scenery, picturesque warm-water beaches and a glorious Mediterranean climate. Whichever island you stay on, you’ll get a taste of traditional Greek culture. With excellent tavernas, handsome hiking trails, and the world’s best sunsets, there’s an island for everyone – beach bums, foodies, adventurers, and active holidaymakers alike. Here’s a look at the most beautiful islands in Greece.
The power of the volcanic island of Santorini creates an energy that overwhelms the senses. Exquisite luxury, amazing food and wine and the unforgettable Santorini sunset are just the start of what this legendary Greek island in the Cyclades offers visitors.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
Boomers Daily 