Welcome to the Santorini SMART Buses! Sightseeing with the ...

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more alone. They sink in the sea of
white houses and hotels.
Perissa is a lively place during summer.
The square of Perissa is the focus for
main attractions of the village apart
from the beach: The church of Holy
Cross, Basilica of Aghia Irini, the
Museum of Minerals and Fossils
and it is also a good starting point to
explore Ancient Thira on the top of
Mesa Vouno.
Strolling around:
The black, sandy beach of Perissa is
a temptation in all its length. The beach is equipped in every amenity you need to spend
unforgotten and relaxing day. You may have a problem to choose among numerous lively
beach bars. The general rule is that if you order something in a beach bar, you can have an
umbrella at your disposal all day long without any additional charge. Otherwise you may
be asked to pay around 7 Euro per umbrella. If you are looking for a quieter place, without
umbrellas and beach bars in the nearest proximity, there is a chance you will find it near the
mountain. This part of the beach is called by the locals Kolata. If it is not satisfying, you will
have to undertake a 3 km walk along the beach to Perivolos.
On the beach are operating two diving centers, you will find also a water park nearby. Scubadiving,
water ski, parachuting, windsurfing, jet-ski are at your disposal on the beach. In Perissa
you can also try horse-riding.
Have also a stroll to the square of Perissa. Here you will find the big church of Holy Cross.
Some 50 m behind the church, at the foot of Mesa Vouno, are the ruins of Basilica of Aghia
Irini. While at the square, step by to the small Museum of Minerals and Fossils, next to the
church of the Holy Cross. On exhibition are fossils found on Santorini, which are estimated
to be from 50 thousand to 1.5 billion years old! The museum is open from 10:00 to 14:00
everyday.
Option for tough hikers: From the square leads a street towards the mountain. If you follow
it for the next 200 m you will get to the signpost for Ancient Thira. You can venture a walk
up there. The footpath from Perissa is quite steep. During hot summer days it may be quite
exhausting, especially if you are not used to mountaineering. You need about 40 minutes to
get to the top, and because the excavation area is closed after 14.30, you must start before
noon.
At the entrance to excavations there is a church of Aghios Stefanos, the oldest church on
Santorini, dated to the 5th century.
From here there is another 10-15
minutes walk to get up to the ancient
city. It may seem difficult, but consider
that they were Spartans who founded
this settlement!
About one third of the way to Ancient
Thira or just 10 minutes away from the
foot of the mountain where you have
started climbing it up, there is another
footway stretching to the east. This
leads to the church of Panagia Katefiani.
The church is built on the steep slope of