Fira, also called Thira, is the capital of the island of Santorini and is the liveliest center with the most services on the island.
Fira is located in the western part of the island of Santorini, 10 kilometers from the main port.
In Fira the bus lines that travel the island of Santorini peep out, even if the vehicle we recommend most is the scooter or a car to be totally independent and not risk waiting for public transport for hours and always find it complete and therefore not available.
Among the centers overlooking the caldera, Fira is the largest and together with Firostefani and Imerovigli they form a single inhabited center.
Fira even if rich in services, is a small village that has narrow streets characterized by classic white houses with blue doors and windows and churches with typical blue domes. It is the ideal place for those who love to wander through the narrow streets in search of quiet and silent corners.
It is perched on a cliff of the caldera 260 meters above sea level, at every corner you can see exceptional views of the submerged volcano. Over the years, these splendid panoramas have brought a great number of tourists from all over the world to the island of Santorini, and in a few years they have made an impressive number of shops, boutiques and hotels, making it very different from what it was originally.
It is fascinating to watch Fira from near and far, where the houses are all set against each other and tastefully decorated. Fira is always beautiful, day and night, when the city lights up in contrast with the very dark sea and with the crowd that presents itself at any time of day or night, especially during the months of July and August. In the end Fira is the center par excellence of Santorini where you can live the night, in fact its day and night activity is concentrated in five or six small streets, but it is the only village where there is a certain number of nightclubs where test the nightlife of the island of Santorini. The other countries are calmer, both day and night. For the more romantic and for couples, we recommend you visit Firostefani, a small, quiet hamlet, further north, right on the scenic road.
Orienting yourself to Fira is very simple: the main square is Theotokopoulou Square and is intersected by odos 25-Martiou (via 25 March), the street that goes up to the upper part of the town. To get to the sea you can take the alley to the corner of the only travel agency in that position.
Fira is not just about panorama..Fira is much more! Let's find out everything you can discover, walking here and there!
The first attraction that we recommend to visit in this splendid and picturesque village is the old port, located 270 meters below Fira and reachable by cable car, on foot (587 steps) or by mule. This small port built by a German engineer in 1840 is fascinating even seen from the sea, in fact from afar you can see the path of the mule track and the splendid reddish rocky coast typical of the island of Santorini. If you want to fully experience one of the typical experiences of the island of Santorini, get off your mule and enjoy an alternative travel experience that you may never have experienced. The mule is a bit the symbol of Santorini and you will meet many of them. At the top you can admire the spectacular Caldera and refresh yourself in one of the bars.
If you love religious works then you cannot miss the Cathedral of Ypapanti, the name by which the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is designated. It is the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral and is located south of the town of Fira, on the waterfront. It was built in 1827 but due to the last earthquake of 1956 that struck the island of Santorini, it had to be rebuilt. It has a rounded shape and is famous for its ocher color and its two bell towers. Inside there are rich decorations and beautiful frescoes in bright colors by the artist Kristophoros Assimis, originally from the island of Santorini. In contrast to the gleaming white of the Cathedral is the chandelier in the central part and the fruit trees that fill the garden. Around this splendid work of classical Greek style there is a beautiful atmosphere, characterized by the view of the Caldera and restaurants and shops. It is one of the most majestic and evocative buildings of the famous Fira.
If you prefer to admire and learn about the history of Santorini and Fira then you should definitely visit the Archaeological Museum, the Prehistoric Museum and the Gizi Museum.
The Archaeological Museum of Fira reveals the long history of the island of Santorini and is located in a small square near the cable car and the Catholic church. It was built in 1960 by the Ministry of Public Works to reconstruct what collapsed due to the earthquake of 1956. At its entrance it houses collections of sculptures and inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman period, including ceramic and clay statuettes from the Geometric to the Hellenistic period. The most important exhibits of the Archaeological Museum are the Thira amphora, with its geometric decoration of the early 7th century BC, the splendid volcanic stone weighing 480 kilos, and many finds from the cemetery of the Ancient Fira; as an amphora and ceramic objects. If you are true lovers of history, especially the Greek one, then surely you will fall in love with this place rich in culture and narrator of a bygone civilization.
Full ticket € 2 - Reduced ticket € 1
Special full ticket € 14 - Special reduced ticket € 7 *
* The special ticket has a duration of 4 days and includes admission to the following museums and archaeological sites: Ancient Fira, Akrotiri, Archaeological Museum of Fira, Prehistoric Museum of Fira, Collection of Icons and Ecclesiastical Artifacts in Pyrgos
Open Wednesday through Monday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Closed on Tuesday
The Prehistoric Museum is located opposite the bus station. Collects some frescoes of Akrotiri, the remains of the famous fresco of the Blue Monkeys (1700 BC), with its rich colors, its vitality and its sense of movement, together with objects of daily life of the III millennium BC, period in which Akrotiri it passed from a simple fishing village to an extraordinary city on the coast. A few meters from the entrance of the Museum, marble figures and vases remind us of Fira's active role, not only in the first Cycladic civilization, but in the area of the Aegean Sea in general. The rooms next to us tell us about the seventeenth century, a period in which Fira had a remarkable development due to its transformation into a commercial port. Wall paintings, vases and jewels cover almost half of the museum's surface. While the statuette of the Golden Goat still leaves a bit of mystery about the reason why it was made.
Full ticket € 3 - Reduced ticket € 2
Special full ticket € 14 - Special reduced ticket € 7 *
* The special ticket includes admission to the following museums and archaeological sites: Ancient Fira, Akrotiri, Archaeological Museum of Fira, Prehistoric Museum of Fira, Collection of Icons and Ecclesiastical Artifacts in Pyrgos
Open Wednesday through Monday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Closed on Tuesday
The Megaro Gizi Museum is located near the Catholic church of Fira. Inside are collections of ancient photos, manuscripts and memorabilia that illustrate the history of the island of Santorini during Venetian rule. Count Choiseul-Gouffier's engravings from the end of the 18th century are also numerous, as are the striking photographs documenting the 1956 earthquake. In addition, you can visit an exhibition of works by local artists and Byzantine icons. During the summer classical and Greek music concerts are held. Here you will be amazed by all the expositions of the Italian period.
Full ticket € 3 - Reduced ticket for students € 1.50
Open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00. Closed on Sunday
Fira is a magical village, as well as offering breathtaking views, it also offers unique sensations and offers the chance to experience the true spirit of the island of Santorini and to know its origin and its development in different eras.