Things to do in Santorini

You know Santorini even if you’ve never visited. It’s that island with the impossible volcanic cliffs and the cobalt coves, the dice-like scatterings of white houses, the blue domes and the postcard sunsets. It’s the Greek island par excellence and it’s so beautiful it deserves a slap.Santorini may be small, but there’s plenty to do. Touring the island will reveal such treasures as the mountain-top monastery of Profitias Elias, the traditional stone-built village of Megalochori and the otherworldly black volcanic beaches such as the one at Perivolos. In the countryside, vineyards produce excellent local varieties like assyrtiko, nykteri and ninsanto.Of course, it’s all about the volcano here. Many believe that the cataclysmic eruption at Santorini wiped out the Minoan civilization, but you can visit its excavated remains at Akrotiri and take a boat out to Nea Kameni or Thirassia for geological treats. There’s a smoldering crater and hot springs. Plus, you’re obliged to observe at least one sunset from the precipitous cliff-edge village of Oia.