« Santorini - FirostefaniSantorini - beaches and ruins »

Santorini - Oia

Added: August 03, 2013

Tags: Greece Santorini architecture church mill photos town volcano
Οία is the Santoriniest place of whole Santorini :-) When you search for Santorini, you will probably find more photos from Oia, than from any other place. Even web ad companies still show me glimpses of Oia thinking I am interested in holiday again. Stupid cookies.

Churches of Oia

Our first visit was for sunset and it was disappointing. When we came there, we learned it will not happen according to postcards. We would need to come probably in winter for that. I even heard those photos with sunset next to those churches are photoshopped. But I am optimist regarding this and I believe winter would work.

In our case of nearly summer solstice it was setting behind body of island leaving churches in shade with bright, still bluish sky. We did not go to overcome this obstacle, but in direction of Finikia, where we could see immediately that sun light is working. Our plan to come other day for proper sunset did not happen. Instead we came again, but during day to get good light for churches. Well, maybe we were too early, coming an hour or two later would provide a little bit more shade to help define a volume.

Churches in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Ekklisia Agios Artemios in Oia, Santorini, Greece

This is where we went instead of shooting against light. To get nice back light. It was windy (as we noticed also nearly every evening) and quite cold. But we were happy with this part of day.
Church in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Church in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Church in Oia, Santorini, Greece      Bell tower in Oia, Santorini, Greece

All following photos of churches are from the second visit. This one is a different view of the first one.
Churches in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Bell tower in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Bell tower in Oia, Santorini, Greece      Bell tower in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Bell tower in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Weddings in Santorini

Weddings are big thing in Santorini. A lot of foreigners want to have it on this beautiful and romantic place. We have seen about 10 brides in 6 days, all of them were from Asia. I have also some photos.

But the best one I missed. We went to Kamari beach on one evening and I did not take my camera, just because I did not want to be afraid for it. And then a bride in bright, long, red dress came and went to water straight ahead of us. I guess it was her groom who was photographing her, because she was pretty annoyed with him occasionally and then she also wanted to take photos of him. Somehow he did not manage in water well and they finished early. It was pretty interesting sight, real reality show :-)

Bride in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Bride and groom in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Wind mills

If we wanted to get sunset in Oia at this time of year we would need to end up here, with these mills. I think they are nice also in normal day light.

By the way, there are 2 wind mills, but these photos show well just one.

Wind mill in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Wind mill in Oia, Santorini, Greece      Wind mill in Oia, Santorini, Greece

Wind mill in Oia, Santorini, Greece

More from Oia

There are more photos I want to show, but I don't have category for them.

This is how Oia looks like from sea level. Cliffs with icing on the top. You can see wind mill on the left and if it was bigger photo you could recognize also blue domes of churches.
Oia from sea, Santorini, Greece

Following 2 photos demonstrate difference between sunset time and lunch time. It shows nicely why was that sunset a bit disappointing - everything was sooner or later in deep shade. Midday was not ideal, but who would want to get up early in the morning? :-)
Oia, Santorini, Greece

Oia, Santorini, Greece

Oia, Santorini, Greece

Oia, Santorini, Greece

Some luxury hotel
Oia, Santorini, Greece

These flowers were everywhere. Very, very nice.
Oia, Santorini, Greece

Back