 The mountain village of Pyrgos, view from the Santo winery | ||
| Pyrgos Kallistis | ||
| region | South Aegean | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 884 (2011) | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Pyrgos is a mountain village on the Cycladic islandSantorini.
background
Pyrgos is located on a 350 m high hilltop on the northwest flank of the island's highest mountain at 567 m Profitis Elias. The first settlement was there in ancient times Old Thira, whose excavations of Kamari from easy to get to. When this place was abandoned after an earthquake, people settled on the hill of Pyrgos, so the place is considered the oldest inhabited place in Santorini.
When the Venetians ruled the Cyclades in the Middle Ages, they built a fortification on the tip of Pyrgos. From the ruins of this Kastelli you have a fantastic view over the west and north of the entire island up to Oía, only the view to the south is through the Profitis Elias denied.
Due to its location, Pyrgos became the island's capital during the pirate attacks. At that time people said of this place that there were more churches than houses, more wine than water and more donkeys than inhabitants. Churches and chapels are still quite numerous today, they are mostly closed during the day. Wine is still grown around the place, as the green fields overgrown with vines show. Only the donkeys have disappeared, these good-natured carrying animals have been replaced by machines. But the alleys have remained the same as they were in those days, and there are only a few roads in Pyrgos that are suitable for car traffic. For this reason, the place has remained quite original.
getting there
By plane
By bus
In the street
Pyrgos is on a side street, about 2 km away from the main road between Firá and the south of the island.
By boat
The port of Athinois is about 6 km away from Pyrgos. Ormos Athinois is the ferry port of Santorini, it can be reached via a well-developed, but steep and winding road.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- Platia. The square in the middle of the village is surrounded by a few taverns and small shops. There is a public toilet below the bus stop.
- Kastelli. Well signposted from the Platia through picturesque alleys, the route leads to the ruins of the former Venetian fortress.
- Santorini Museum (Folklore Museum), Pyrgos Kallistis, 84700 Thira (at the Platia in a former winery). E-mail: [email protected]. Exhibitions: living on Santorini, fully furnished living spaces for citizens and farmers, professions: farmers, fishermen. Tomatoes: cultivation, processing. Wine: growing the vines, harvesting and pressing the grapes, up to the distillation of raki or tsikoudia. The museum is just a few steps from the Platia.Open: Mon-Sat 10 am-3pm and 5-8pm.
