Only the gods enjoy a better view

Canonized by poets, painters, and philosophers throughout history, Santorini captivates the imagination before you arrive… and lingers long after you have left it behind.

Tumultuous beginnings

From its breathtaking peaks to the depths of the sparkling Aegean, the exquisite harmony of Santorini is inseparable from its turbulent origin. Around 1600 BC, a massive volcanic eruption sent the landmass that was its ancient ancestor plummeting to the ocean floor. The island that remains, crowned with jagged cliffs curved around the engulfed caldera, and dotted with the ruins of bygone civilizations, is Santorini as we know it today: a divine reminder of the beauty and energy that arise from the clash of opposing forces—fire and water, earth and sky.

Legendary beauty

It is no wonder that so many myths are entwined with the birth and evolution of Santorini. The island’s unique landscape and epic beauty suggest the intervention of gods. Whether you believe that this was the home of the lost city of Atlantis, a safe haven created for the love child of a nymph, or any of the fantastical origin stories that surround this Cycladic island beauty, you will be captivated around every corner by the layers of history and triumph revealed in Santorini’s land and embodied by its resilient people.

A recipe for greatness

Nourished by sunshine, sea breezes, and volcanic soil, Santorini’s agricultural bounty, nurtured with pride and a deep sense of tradition, has made it a world-class culinary destination. Local growers, fishermen, and artisans take tremendous pleasure in sharing the wealth of Santorini gastronomic excellence, from the delectable cherry tomatoes and white eggplants to the remarkable array of indigenous cheeses, and of course the endless riches from the sea.

EROSANTORINI celebrates the unique gastronomy of Santorini and her neighboring islands.

Fruits of the vine

Santorini’s volcanic origins have also created an ideal terroir for its wine cultivation, with soil—a mixture of volcanic ash, pumice stone, and hardened lava—that is rich in essential minerals, ideal for producing wines that are crisp, acidic, and refreshingly complex. Careful training, including the weaving of the vines into basket-like circles to protect them from the elements, has kept the vineyards of Santorini under continuous cultivation for hundreds of years. Assyrtiko, the pride of the island, produces delicious, full-bodied whites and, when blended with athiri and aidani, the sweet amber-hued dessert wine, vinsanto.

Discovering Santorini

To visit Santorini is to experience its elemental power and to fall headlong in love—with the island, its charming people, its whitewashed villages sprinkled atop technicolor cliffs.

There are captivating ancient ruins to be explored; alluring coves to be discovered by sail or dive boat; magnificent lava beaches pebbled in red, black, and virtually every color of the rainbow; delightful shops and cafes to linger in for hours, awaiting the arrival of another glorious sunset.

Come, explore, and discover what has made this island among the most beloved destinations on the planet, bewitching artists and aristocrats, jet-setters and backpackers alike.