{"id":21533,"date":"2024-09-18T15:14:23","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T15:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/?post_type=inspiracion&p=21533"},"modified":"2024-09-18T15:16:57","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T15:16:57","slug":"locals-tips-for-visiting-oia","status":"publish","type":"inspiracion","link":"https:\/\/volare.volotea.com\/en\/cities\/santorini\/locals-tips-for-visiting-oia\/","title":{"rendered":"A local’s tips for visiting Oia"},"content":{"rendered":"
Going to Santorini and not visiting Oia is like going to Paris without taking even one photo of the Eiffel Tower or going to Rome and not seeing the Colosseum. I know you\u2019ll be thinking that it will be full of tourists, with crowds of people. And, to be truthful, you\u2019re not entirely wrong. I\u2019ve lived in Santorini for almost 5 years and these are my local tips for visiting Oia.<\/h5>\n

Oia, the village of sailors and captains<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s take a step back in time, because Oia, the village on Santorini<\/a> where everyone wants to admire the sunset, has a very interesting history.
Let\u2019s start with its name. So that you don\u2019t make a bad impression, let me tell you straightaway that it\u2019s not pronounced as it\u2019s written, but simply \u2018eea\u2019. Until 1930, this village didn\u2019t even have a name! It was simply the village of the Kastro of Agios Nikolaos<\/em> or \u2018Pano Meria<\/em>\u2019. Pano meria\u2019 literally means the \u2018high part\u2019 (of the island, that is). And that\u2019s what the inhabitants of Santorini called, and still call today, Oia, which has always been considered the most important part of the island. If you want to impress a local, ask about Pano Meria\u2019 and you\u2019ll see a smile light up their face!<\/p>\n

\"oia<\/figure>\n

By 1200, the Venetians had already realised the potential of this village and made it their trading base. With its two harbours, Ammoudi and Armeni, the soul of the village of Oia, since ancient times, has always been connected to the sea, to voyages and trade. Sailors, captains and various craftsmen were the locals of the past, and the architecture of the village is testimony to this.<\/p>\n

The architecture of the village of Oia: Iposcafa and Capetanospita<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Stroll through the streets and look for the clues to the history of the village. Its main street, known as \u2018Marmara\u2019, is paved in marble and is a sign of the village\u2019s illustrious past. It divides the village into two parts: the caldera, with its houses hanging over the cliffs, and the inland part, with its neoclassical villas, the captains\u2019 houses. Things (as well as prices!) are a bit different now, but at one time the cave houses (iposkafa) overlooking the volcano were the homes of sailors, workers and those who were unable to build a house, and so made their homes by digging into the rock. That\u2019s why the famous cave houses of Oia are on top of one another, almost one inside the other, with private space almost non-existent today, as it hardly existed in the past. The captains, on the other hand, with more economic means, built their houses (capetanospita) inland, in a neoclassical style, with wonderful terraces from where their families could look out every day to see if the captain and head of the family was on their way home.<\/p>\n

\"architettura<\/figure>\n

Is Oia worth visiting today?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My answer to this is most definitely yes! Oia is a village that tells the history of Santorini (its past) and also the story of its present and future. It\u2019s true that at sunset you\u2019ll find huge crowds of people who, like you, have come to watch the sun sink into the blue waters of the Aegean. If, like me, you\u2019re an early riser, my advice is to get to Oia in time to see the sun rise<\/strong>. As the soft light of the early sun hits the pastel colours of the houses, you\u2019ll be treated to a sight that will stay with you forever. You\u2019ll walk through the narrow streets of the village in absolute silence. <\/p>\n

\"cupola<\/figure>\n

But if getting up in time for dawn is not for you, be patient and find a spot close to the ruins of the Castle of Agios Nikolaos, (although if you\u2019re with your partner and are looking for a romantic atmosphere, this is not ideal). If you\u2019re feeling a bit more adventurous, once you\u2019ve visited the village, set off just before sunset and go and lie on Baxedes beach<\/strong> (less than 10 minutes\u2019 drive away), where you\u2019ll find a bit of solitude and the same spectacular sunset.<\/p>\n

What not to miss in Oia<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Castle of Agios Nikolaos<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The castle is the<\/em> place to watch the sunset from (see above!)<\/p>\n

Ammoudi Harbour<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve eaten a few souvlaki too many, then this is your chance to work off those calories! Put on your trainers and walk down the 278 winding steps from the castle to the harbour. You can then walk back up if you have any energy left, or call a taxi (but please don\u2019t use the donkeys)!<\/p>\n

The most instagrammable places<\/a><\/h3>\n

There are various spots throughout the village and you\u2019ll have no problem finding them because there\u2019ll be long queues to join before you can take your photo. This is another reason why it\u2019s best to visit Oia in the morning!<\/p>\n

Unmissable are the Blue Domes<\/strong>: when you reach the churches with their blue roofs, it will be like a dream come true. And you\u2019ll gain a few more followers.<\/p>\n

\"scorci<\/figure>\n

A local\u2019s guide to Oia: a list of alternative things to do<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n