Traditional Village of Pyrgos

• PYRGOS

  
  Pyrgos is situated 8 km southeast of Fira. The village is located on a fabulous spot on top of a hill and displays incredible panoramic views of the island. It was built on the top of a hill and was until the early 1800, the capital of the island. The village is composed of traditional houses built around the Venetian Castle and the small streets follow the shape of the hill. Today, the village of Santorini counts more than 500 inhabitants and it is well-known for its major tourist movement. Climing from the square up to the castle of Pyrgos, the stone houses crowd more densely together and the labyrinth of narrow vaulted lanes becomes more tortuous.
  
  The village has many churches, around 33, but the most famous is the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, where a small collection of ethnographic material and old icons are exhibits. Pyrgos is a lovely place, winter and summer alike. Although it is one of the prettiest places of the island, Pyrgos has only recently won a place on the tourist map.
  
  It has become known largely because of the splendid Easter celebrations instituted a few years ago by its deputy mayor. The day before the Palm Sunday, the whole place is fragrant with the scent of the rosemary that decorates the 17 meter cross. The whole island turns out the procession of the Epitaphios on Good Friday when the village decked with tin lanterns so that glows like a jewel in the night. Pyrgos is a place that certainly worth a visit and dedicate enough time to the most fabulous panoramic view of the island.