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Oia - the perfect postcard village
Oia, or Pano Meria (upper place) as it is also called by the locals, is probably the closest you get to that picture perfect traditional village that decorates so many postcards from Greece.
Visiting Oia with its colorful array of stone-houses, apparently dug straight out of the lavarock, contrasted with the light blue of the sky above and the deep blue of the sea below, will really give you a feeling of walking through a postcard image.
One of the great attractions is the amazing sunset you can experience from here. It is sometimes referred to as one of the most photographed sunsets in the world.
History
The village has a fairly long and interesting history.
During the Frankish occupation (1201-1580), Oia was one of the largest settlements on Santorini. Unfortunately, not much remains to be seen from this period, but a prominent building from this period is the Kastelli Agios Nikolaos, often simply referred to as Kastro. This castle was built in 1482 to protect the village against the increasing threat of pirates.
The castle suffered great damages in the earthquake of 1956, but parts of it have remained intact.
Later, after the liberation from the Turks in 1821, the inhabitants of Oia had a very prosperous period as sailors. Many great mansions were built at the time and decorated luxuriously.
One of the best Santorini museums is here and it displays the nautical history of Santorini, particularly from the successful 19th century.
Highlights
This is one of the few Cycladic villages where you can get a genuine feel of the traditional architectural style. In fact, the village is considered a national treasure and is protected by the Greek ministry of Public Works.
Thus, despite the tourist invasion in recent decades there is little evidence of tourist infrastructure.
Maybe as a result, Oia is a more peaceful village than its world-wide fame suggests. It has little of the amenities of Fira and a much smaller number of shops, hotels, restaurants and bars.
Even in high season, the village is fairly quiet in the mornings before the crowds arrive in the afternoon to catch the main attraction: the sunset.
Sunset
The Oia sunset has become known as one of the most photographed in the world, and you will not have a hard time believing that should you visit one afternoon in August.
After the few 'official' sunset viewing areas fill up, crowds gather on stairs and rooftops pointing their cameras at the descending red fireball, hoping to bring a little bit of magic back home with them.
Festivals
Oia is home to some of the best known Santorini festivals, which are often held in honor of saints.
St Basil is celebrated on New Years Day, January 1st, and St Epifanios on September 8th.
The festivals include decoration of churches, music, local food and of course lots of Santorini wine.
Access
Oia is a short and enjoyable drive or ride with the local bus from Fira. It is real easy to find by car. Actually, you can't miss it. Just take the main road north from Fira and stay on it all the way to Oia.
On the way you can enjoy some great scenery as you drive/ride along the hillside.
Accommodation
Oia does not have as many hotels as some other major tourist spots on Santorini, and booking well in advance is always a great idea if you're planning to stay here. What it lacks in quantity, however, it makes up in quality. Here you'll find some of the nicest Santorini hotels, and not just in the luxury range.
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