Emporio Village in Santorini

In the village, three long paths have survived to this day. They were made by the locals, centuries ago, to move with horses and donkeys. Through the paths they transported their products from the fields to the local market, returned to their homes, transported the sick, centuries before the advent of the automobile in our lives. Anyone who loves hiking will definitely love Emporio. Also, anyone interested in taking good photos without the mass of tourists.

* The ideal way to start your day is to get up a little earlier and climb the built staircase, from the crossing of Potamos to Agios Spyridon. Easy climb, few minutes. On the left is the Castle Gate. Entering its interior, from the first steps, you turn back the clock of time. And you are in the Middle Ages.

* From Emporio Square, the narrow street leads straight to the entrance to the Cemetery. On its left side begins the path that goes up to the mills. The view along the route is breathtaking. Walking among flowering herbs, with bright yellow and purple flowers, whose smell breaks the nose. Walk directly to the mills, at the top of the hill. To your right stretches the exotic beach of Vlychada and to the left the huge beach of Perivolos and Perissa. From above, the image of the settlement is impressive. The mills of Emporio are among the most beautiful sights of the settlement. There are still the huge stone millstones where the millers ground the wheat and made flour, milled oats and fodder that they produced in the small plain that spreads out below the mountain. Owls, small raptors and migratory birds make their appearance visible at every turn. The journey takes about half an hour.

* The road of Potamos turns into a path and connects Emporio with the village of Pyrgos. On the path, which follows the foot of the mountain, you will come across small fields, horses, donkeys, wildflowers and dozens of bird species. Overlooking the sea and the small Cycladic churches. I always stop at the small churches with the cozy courtyards. In all the older ones planted a tree, built a small terrace to rest in the shade. Most have a cold mountain water tap.

Following this path I come across prickly pear forests, full of red prickly pears. The journey takes just over an hour. The trail is passable along its longest route, I walked it many times. You take deep breaths of crystal clear air and continue.

* An intersection at Potamos leads you to the parallel road to Katsinaros. Easy and short route, about half an hour that you will never forget. The rural road passes between rural houses and fields sown with olives, lemon trees, stables with donkeys. You will meet welcoming grandparents who will stop to say good morning. The road ends at a small church with a wonderful view and a large yard.

* Leaving Kasteli, there is an alley that leads to the Castrospito of Goula. You walk almost between the walls of Cycladic medieval houses, some captain’s houses stand out for their size.

When there was still no commercial navigation, some residents built ships with tree trunks and transported the local products, mainly wine, fava beans, sun-dried tomatoes first to Crete and later to the Bosphorus Straits in Constantinople and from there some reached the Russian palaces. Herodotus mentions that some wicked Cretans were selling Cretan wine as Santorini, raising its price to high! For a long time the sought-after local products traveled on the ships of local sailors all the way to Italy.

Go to Goula for the sunset. While hundreds of birds perch on its stone walls. Passing between Byzantine stone churches, with a view of the mills and the sea. Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the landscape.

Walking towards Goula you might only hear Cycladic songs. Even if the island is full of visitors, this and the other routes remain quiet. Certainly this route is ideal for anyone interested in the famous Cycladic architecture. In addition, on your way you will meet the famous cats of the Aegean and the view from the Kastrospito of Goula is unique.