Megalochori among Vineyards and Kánaves

A walk through Megalochori passes well-preserved houses, churches and squares, offering a glimpse of Santorini as it was in the past. Vineyards surround the village, bringing landscape and built heritage together in its streetscape. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can consider whether you want your stay to focus mainly on the village itself or whether other aspects of the island should shape your visit.

Traces of viticulture in the village

Megalochori’s central square is called Potamós. It provides a clear point of reference in the village, while the lanes connect houses, churches and squares that offer different impressions of the place. Among the distinctive historic buildings are old Kánaves built into the rock. They were once used as wine cellars. Their construction and former use link the built heritage with viticulture, which is also visible in the surrounding landscape.

Gavalas Winery is located in the traditional village of Megalochori and is one of Santorini’s oldest wineries. Together with the vineyards around the village, it forms a clear thematic thread: from cultivation in the landscape, through the former use of the Kánaves, to the winery in the village. This connection is a useful starting point if you are interested in the history of viticulture and the village. These features describe Megalochori without reducing a walk through it to a single destination.

The surrounding area and the wider island setting

Near Megalochori are the beaches of Thérmi and Pláka, with hot springs and volcanic warm-water streams. They can be reached by boat or along a footpath. This gives you two different ways to get there: by boat or on foot. The beaches are part of the area around the village; they are distinct from the squares and buildings within it. When planning your days, you can treat walks through the village and these excursion destinations as separate interests.

The wider island setting is Santorini. It is the southernmost of the Cyclades; its caldera was formed by a massive eruption around 1600 BC, and the island group is characterised by a landscape with active volcanoes. Other hiking trails on Santorini connect Pyrgos with Profitis Ilias, Emporio and Ancient Thera. A path along the edge of the caldera runs from Imerovigli to Oia, with views of the sea, the caldera and the volcano. These trails and landscapes offer a different perspective on Santorini from the houses, churches and squares of Megalochori.

Local cuisine also adds to the island context. Santorini Fava is a PDO product made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L., which grows exclusively in Thera’s volcanic soil. The Santorini tomato is also a PDO product and has been cultivated since the early 19th century. When planning your holiday, you can decide how much weight to give to village history, the wine-growing landscape, hiking trails and local products. This distinction can help when choosing a holiday apartment: first decide whether Megalochori itself or a broader exploration of Santorini should shape your stay more.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Alopronoia, Kamari, Íos, Vothonas, Agios Georgios, Agia Theodoti, Thirasia, Karterados.

Go to the main travel overview: Santorini.