Imerovigli Holidays

Like the rest of Santorini, the village of Imerovigli has had a turbulent past – first with a volcanic eruption circa 1500 BC, then an earthquake in the Fifties. Today, this peaceful place is known as the Balcony of the Aegean – the clifftop setting gives you views over a trio of volcanic islets. And it’s done a pretty good job of putting itself back together, with whitewashed houses and tranquil tavernas scattered prettily among its narrow streets.

Imerovigli is on the western side of the island, where the caldera – the volcanic crater that the village sits on – takes up the coastline. So most people head to the eastern beaches of Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos – about 20 minutes’ drive away – for sunbeds and watersports. For a quieter, do-not-disturb vibe, Pori and Koloumbo beaches are 10 minutes to the northeast.

There are lots of lovely little churches in Imerovigli, all in the famous Cycladic style with whitewashed walls and blue domes. The one with the best setting is the Chapel of Agios Ioannis Apokefalistheis. It stands close to Skaros Rock – a rocky headland that once housed a 13th-century castle, but now serves as a great sunset-watching spot.

It’s only 5 minutes’ drive to the capital, Thira, with its cosmopolitan bars and shops. And from there, there are organised boat trips to the volcanic islet of Nea Kameni, which takes in a tour of the crater and swimming in the volcanic waters of a hot spring. Meanwhile, there are the ruins of a Minoan settlement at Akrotiri, 20 minutes’ drive from Imerovigli.