Ancient Thera, Santorini

Almost 400 metres up, on the southeast coast of the island, in the area called Mesa Vouno, you can find the ruins of the 11th century BC Dorian settlement of Ancient Thira. The ancient site is located on a headland which juts out into the sea between Kamari and Perissa.

The site was excavated by a German expedition in the 1860s, and you can see remains from Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. The ruins are limited, but you can see evidence of temples, houses with mosaic floors, an agora, gymnasium, and a theatre with stunning and sheer views to the sea . Many of the ruins date from the Ptolemies who built temples to the Egyptian gods in the 3rd and 4th centuries BC.

On the far west of the site there is a sanctuary from the 3rd century BC that features relief carvings symbolizing the gods, an eagle (Zeus), a lion (Apollo), a dolphin (Poseidon), and a phallus (Dionysos).

To the east is the Terrace of Celebrations. Graffiti was a problem even in the 8th century BC, and if you look you can find messages supporting participatants at the festivals. At that time, boys danced naked and sang hymns to Apollo or competed in physical contests.

7th century vases found here are now on display at the Archaeological Museum in Fira.

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The views from the site, like so many places on the island, are beautiful.

There is a foot path from Perissa, and the walk is about thirty minutes. If you're driving, take the road from Kamari.

Photos from the Ministry of Culture. For more information click here.