We’ll begin our hike at Pirgos square and take a leisurely stroll through the charming town of Pirgos, stopping to explore the medieval castle and admire the quaint architecture of the town’s buildings. If you spot something that catches your eye, don’t hesitate to venture off the beaten path and explore the narrow streets with me.

From Pirgos, we’ll head north along the ancient path of Pyrgos. Our first ascent will be a brief uphill walk that begins near the Holy Apostles church, leading us to the highest point of Santorini at 567 meters above sea level. Here, we’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the island and a chance to appreciate the beauty of the traditional houses.

At the summit, we’ll visit the historic Prophet Elias monastery, constructed in 1711, and a nearby military base before continuing on the narrower, rockier path that leads to the ancient city of Thira, located on Mesa Vouno at 396 meters above sea level. If you’re interested, we can take a detour to explore the archaeological sites, which will add about 1-1.5 hours to the hike.

Our journey to Perissa will take us through the slopes of Profitis Elias and Mesa Vouno, where we’ll observe the location of the Archaic period cremation burials. As we approach the Monastery of Prophet Elias on our right, perched on top of the mountain, we’ll take a small path that leads us to a rock with a cross and an arrow pointing to a new direction. The path will be challenging, with 90 stone steps, but the payoff will be the stunning view of Perissa and the Aegean Sea from the chapel of Panagia Ketefiani, built into the rock.

Finally, we’ll return to the main path and find ourselves near Perissa’s square, where we’ll see one of the largest churches on the island, Timios Stavros, marking the end of our hike. If you’re feeling peckish after the hike, you can indulge in a delightful lunch at one of the local fish taverns situated in Perissa.