Oia, the Jewel of Santorini
Location of Alexander's Boutique Hotel
Caldera sunsets, breathtaking views, miles of dark sandy or pebbled beaches, small domed churches & cobbled streets, houses carved into the dark volcanic cliffs - all this is Santorini and more ..
Oia is Santorini's second largest village. Less cosmopolitan than Fira, it is more picturesque and without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on the island. The streets are paved with marble rather than the cobblestones encountered elsewhere on the island.
Perched on the Caldera, it boasts ruins of what was once a castle, and below that the tiny port of Ammoudi with its fish tavernas. One can reach the port by descending 214 steps on foot or by car.
Oia reached the peak of prosperity in the late 19th & early 20th century. Its economic prosperity was based on its merchant fleet which plied trade in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially from Alexandria to Russia. Hence the two-story captain's houses built on the highest part of the village which are a reminder of the village's former affluence.
THINGS TO DO
Oia offers art deco galleries, bars, quiet cafes and good restaurants with international cuisine, while also providing fresh seafood at the local tavernas. Well known in the Oia area are the beaches of Pori and Baxedes.