√ Excursions in Santorini: Fira'-Pyrgos (10 km)

Departing from Firà, drive on the main road to Perissa. After 7 km at the junction with the road to Pyrgos turn left towards Pyrgos-Exo Gonià-Mesa Gonià.

Pyrgos: it's the town that more than all others still retain traces of the old medieval village (like Skaros, Emborio and Akrotiri)

Built on the hilltop, far from the sea, it was surrounded by walls, which rests are still visible today. After the Middle-Age, people began to build houses outside the walls and the village took the present look.

The peculiarity of the village is the high number of churches. The most ancient one, with its beautiful frescoes and old icons, is the church of "Theotokaki" (The Dormition of the Holy Virgin) dating back to the 10th Century. It is located in the castle of Pyrgos, which was built a bit later than the one in Episkopì Gonià.

Churches dating back to the period between the 1537 AD and the 1650 AD are: The Transfiguration of Christ (to Christulaki), St. John the Theologian, Saint Theodosia and St. Nicholas from Kisiras which is carved into the ground. Other churches built later are: St. Catherine, St. Demetrios, Archangel Michael ... and that's not all! Just think that on the island of Santorini there are 352 churches.

The Monastery of Profitis Ilias: to reach The Monastery of Profitis Ilias you need to go to the highest point of the island. From the main square take the driveway going uphill towards the Monastery or, alternatively, take a walk along the old stairs street.
This male Monastery of Prophet Elijah the "thesvita" (stands for "clear or famous") was founded by two monks in the 1711 AD and it was originally a community of monks forbidden to women (until the 1853 AD). Indoors, besides the church, there is a small museum divided in two sectors: folkloristic and ed ecclesiastic.
The first sector is located in an area that once a time monks used to dedicate to homeworks.
The second one is dedicated to the Monastery's Memorabilia, such as: 5th-Century Cretan Icons, Crucifixes, Chalices, Holy Relics, Manuscripts, Seals and Letters.
The Monastery also houses P.Nomikou's private collection of antique fabrics, hand embroideries, ceramic wares and paintings coming from the most ancient and luxury houses of the island.