Traditional Santorini villages, wine and culture, private 4 hour tour

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Pyrgos Kallistis 847 00, Greece

Pyrgos is the Medieval Santorini. The Venetian Kasteli is one of the five castle-states built by the Venetians in the 15th century.

The special architecture of the village with it’s stone houses and the arches gives a different dimension to the island. Pyrgoshas become world famous for its devout and unique Easter celecration!

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Megalochori 847 00, Greece

Megalochori is one of the most historic and beautiful villages in Santorini. Here you can find anything from old pirate hideaways dating back as far as the 17th century to stately mansions that have stood the test of time with high walls and sturdy wooden doors to guard the inner courtyards. The locals of Santorini island take special care to restore houses that have been long forgotten in Megalochori and preserve its rich history. But that’s not to say Megalochori is all history.

In the village square, you can find bustling life with a number of taverns and cafes. Megalochori is located in wine country, so you can expect a beautiful landscape and delicious wine to be found here.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Panagia Episkopi, Mesa Gonia Greece

Located in the village of Episkopi Gonia (also known as Mesa Gonia) is the beautiful Byzantine church of Panagia Episkopi. The church is considered the best example of traditional ecclesiastical architecture of the island by Mathaios Mendrinos, author of the booklet "The Church of Episkopi in Santorini" which is distributed by the Ecclesiastical Committee of the church ...

Panagia Episkopi was built in the late 11th Century by Emperor Alexios A’ Kominos. The church is an important Byzantine monument. It houses the icon of Panagia Glikofilousa, one of the third most priceless portable icons in the world.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Castelli of Emporio, Emporio Greece

The castle of Emporio and the Tower of Nimborio (as the village also used to be called) is at the largest village of Santorini, on the south part. Emporio village was the commercial center of the island and the purpose of the castle was to guard the transactions and the residents in general, mainly from the perilous pirate invasions which were common during the Frankokratia in Cyclades. Thus the Venetians built five fortified settlements throughout Santorini to shield themselves.

The castle in Emporio was constructed in the mid-15th century at the center of the village. It was very well fortified and structured; the houses were built side by side and they were connected by bridges. The interior reminds a labyrinth with very narrow streets where only one person could fit. There are steps, doors, small windows and arches everywhere. For safety reasons there was only one entrance to the settlement that still exists. The castle is exemplary for its architecture and lovely sentiments overrun the visitors as they walk through its paths. It is definitely the best maintained castle and one of the most beautiful landmarks of Santorini. Inside the fortified settlement there are various wonderful churches, among them the church of Panagia Mesiani that dates back to the 16th century.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Venetsanos Winery, Eparchiaki Odos Firon-Ormou Perissis, Megalochori 84701 Greece

Venetsanos winery is located right above the port of Athinios, overlooking the magnificent caldera of Santorini. The Venetsanos family has a very long tradition in producing wine. Originally was produced for the island and subsequently it was exported extensively, and particularly to countries such as Russia. It was built in 1947 by Venetsanos family and became the first industrial winery on the island. Its most distinguished feature is the structural design, which essentially used gravity, facilitating energy efficiency, at a time when access to electricity and other energy sources was very limited. The winery was built in an unconventional manner constructed from above and moving downwards.

Duration: 45 minutes