Travel Guide OIa – Ia

It's one of the most beautiful places in Greece, and even more so if you manage to approach it away from the crowds. Thira is already magnificent, but here it surpasses all, this place is unique and the view mystical. An incredible view of the landscape (volcano, sea, caldera...). 11 kilometers from Thira, the town of Oia (pronounced I-a) was abandoned by its inhabitants in 1956 after an earthquake. The 600 people who live there have restored the destroyed houses or built new ones, carved out of the rock. While the views are exceptional, the village is not without its share of tourist pitfalls. The crowds, the knick-knacks, the indifferent tavernas... Greek siesta time (3pm-6pm) is perhaps the quietest time for a stroll. In the evening, if you can sleep in, the atmosphere is calmer. It's pleasant to stroll through the narrow marble streets of the old town, past the old neoclassical mansions, past the white and blue chapels and their distinctive domes. At sunset, the view is superb and the atmosphere peaceful, although this is also the busiest time of day. Oia overlooks two bays, Ammoudi (to the west) and Armeni (to the east). These are the departure points for boat excursions into the caldera. Both are home to a number of fish tavernas, ideally located for a pleasant evening: right on the water's edge, secluded at the foot of the cliffs.