Thirasia: Manolás and the route to Korfos

Manolás gives Thirasia a specific focus for exploration: a winding path connects the village with Korfos, the village’s port. Churches also offer different points of interest during a stay. If you are looking for a holiday apartment on Thirasia, you can first consider whether local history and the route between Manolás and Korfos should be among the main focuses of your trip.

Manolás, between churches and the route to the port

The paved path between the port of Korfos and Manolás has approximately 250 steps. The traditional ascent is on foot or by mule. If you plan to take this route, you can consider it a distinct part of your exploration.

The churches also give Manolás a distinctive cultural profile. Agios Ioannis is one of the village’s noteworthy churches. The Church of Agios Konstantinos is dated to 1874. A visit therefore brings together two different perspectives: a church singled out as noteworthy and a building with a specific historical date.

This local focus is a useful starting point when choosing your accommodation: would you like to spend most of your time in Manolás, exploring its churches and the connection to Korfos? Or are you more interested in Santorini’s landscapes, hiking destinations and culture as a broader travel destination? You can weigh these interests separately when looking for a holiday apartment, without treating the different places as one and the same.

The broader travel horizon: Santorini

Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades and is characterized by a landscape with active volcanoes. The caldera was formed by a powerful eruption around 1600 BC. Along the coast at Vlychada, rugged, pale cliffs create a distinctive lunar landscape. At Akrotiri, well-preserved Minoan frescoes and buildings buried beneath volcanic ash take center stage. The landscape and archaeology thus offer two very different ways to explore the broader destination of Santorini.

Pyrgos also brings history and culture together. The village was designated a protected settlement in 1995. The ecclesiastical collection of Pyrgos opened as a permanent exhibition at the Profitis Ilias Monastery in August 1997.

Hiking and activities on Santorini

Santorini’s hiking trails cover a variety of routes. A trail along the edge of the caldera runs from Imerovigli to Oia and offers views of the sea, the caldera and the volcano. Other trails connect Pyrgos with Profitis Ilias, Emporio and Ancient Thera. These routes can suit different interests when planning your trip: views of the caldera, or trails that connect several named destinations.

Activities involving sailing and kitesurfing are available on Santorini’s southeast coast; parasailing and views of the Aegean are also offered there. The annual Santorini Experience is organized by the Municipality of Thira, its Department of Culture and Sports, and Active Media. The Ifestia Festival takes place on the third Saturday in September and represents the volcanic eruption with fireworks. If this date matters for your trip planning, check the dates for the relevant year’s edition.

Regional cuisine as a focus in its own right

Santorini’s produce also reflects the island’s conditions. Santorini Fava is a PDO product made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L., which grows exclusively in the volcanic soil of Thera. The Santorini tomato also has PDO status and has been cultivated since the early 19th century. Both products give the regional cuisine a clearly identifiable connection to their origin and cultivation.

Other examples illustrate different flavors and properties: the white Santorini eggplant has a sweet aroma and juicy flesh that does not absorb oil when fried. Chloro is a creamy goat’s cheese produced in very limited quantities on Santorini. Local cooks also prepare tomato fritters called Tomatokeftedes with PDO cherry tomatoes. These culinary themes complement the picture of Santorini’s volcanic landscape and historic sites.

When choosing where to stay, it remains useful to keep the distinction in mind: Manolás and the route to Korfos are the local focus on Thirasia; the caldera, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, the coast and the products mentioned belong to Santorini’s own travel horizon. Choose your holiday apartment based on which of these themes you would like to prioritize during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Perissa, Emporio, Éxo Goniá, Vlychada, Imerovigli, Agkali, Mesariá, Folegandros

For the broader travel overview: Santorini.