Emoprio is the second most populous city of Santorini, but it is not crowded. The local sights are worth seeing for anyone visiting the island.
Emoprio is the heir to an ancient fortress city with a medieval layout. That is why its streets are narrow and mostly pedestrian, and the houses are low and with steep walls. Part of the houses served as the outer wall of a small fortress, inside which Emporio was housed.
In the center of the town is the most famous landmark of Emporio - the church Palea Panagia with a unique bell tower. The bell tower is multi-tiered and rises upward with its slender figure, cutting through the sky blue of the southern island.
It was built a little later than the church, but according to historians, no later than the 16th century. It is said that the unusual style combines Greek-Byzantine motifs and elements of the Renaissance style characteristic of Genoese architecture.
The bell tower played the role not only of announcing the beginning of the service, but also served as a place to watch the sea. At that time, the main problem of Santorini's inhabitants were pirate raids. That's why the tallest buildings were in addition the place for the maritime patrol.
The church has a carved wooden iconostasis made by 19th century craftsmen.
Emporio in antiquity had several strongholds. One of them is the tower of Niborio. The tower, like the castle, was located on Mount Gavrilos, which is on the west side of the city.
Historians argue about the owners of this formidable medieval structure, whose walls have survived to this day. Some attribute the construction of the large rectangular tower on the high slope of the caldera to the monks of the Abbey of St John, others to the wealthy Venetian merchant family of Dargent.
The rugged walls of the castle have not been spared by time, but even now these colossal structures look monumental and impressive.
It wasn't only the Middle Ages that saw life flourish around Emporio. Not long ago, archaeologists found caves from the ancient Greek period near Emporio. The caves were the dwellings of the local inhabitants. One of the caves is called Ehentra or "viper" because of a carved image of a snake found on its wall.
Around Emporio, there are former windmills. They stand as watchtowers around the town, adding exoticism to the landscape of the ancient town.
The small church of Agios Nikitas is situated 1.5 kilometers from the center of Emporio. It is situated in the midst of vineyards and preserves the best traditions of Cycladic architecture. The small church has its own bell tower.
The path that leads to it is extremely picturesque. If you have time to explore the surroundings of Emporio, you should pay attention to the vineyards, which are cultivated in a special way on the volcanic soil of the island.
Emporio is a town with a developed infrastructure: gas stations, ATMs, cafes, a network of hotels. It is located a few kilometers from the magnificent seaside resort of Perissa.
Visiting churches in Santorini, as in most Greek cities you must wear a cape for women and casual pants for men (not shorts). This is necessary to respect the traditions and the respect of the tourists.
The journey through the city is purely on foot. Narrow medieval streets with many steps is not an easy physical challenge, so it is advisable to stock up on a bottle of water, if necessary - a small snack. There is a place to have a full lunch or a cup of coffee, but you won't spend much time on the way.
From Fira there is a regular bus of the state carrier. The price of the ticket for the flight "Fira - Emporio" is 1.80 euros. There are preferential fares for students - 1,4 euros. The night fare is 2,3 euros.
By car, rented or pre-booked transfer, the trip to the city is faster - only 17 minutes. Most of the time you will have to spend in the car journey, forcing you to stop in traffic jams in the center of Fira. The road is mostly free and passes near the coast of Santorini, including the town of Megalohori. A direct transfer from the airport will take about the same time - 17-20 minutes.
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