Santorini Imerovigli

resort report and Imerovigli map

Santorini Imerovigli

Virtually an extension of Fira, the village of IMEROVIGLI, Santorini, is perched even higher on the cliff (330 metres) overlooking the caldera and ,arguably, offers even better views than its more popular neighbour which is about 3km away.
The name Imerovigli derives from 'imera vigli' - 'daytime look-out' when it was the main watchtower on the island in the days when pirates roamed the Mediterranean.
On the seaward side of Imerovigli village is an enormous rock outpost, with the remains of the fortress of Skaros standing on top of it. Before 1800, Skaros was part of Imerovigli but most of it, along with the houses that surrounded it, was destroyed in the 1956 earthquake.
Skaros was one of five fortresses on Santorini and the most important one. Built by the Venetians in the 13th century it was the capital of Santorini until the 18th century and impregnable. It was never taken in its 600 years despite several sieges.
Houses on Imerovigli cliff edge were also abandoned following the earthquake but were reoccupied in the 1970s. It now benefits from protected status to prevent any unsympathetic building - a useful bulwark against development given the breathtaking sunsets over the caldera that can be viewed from here.
Imerovigli is also known for the many cave houses that have been carved out of the cliff. The Church of the Panagia Malteza also has a magnificent iconostasis carved wooden screen and many fine icons depicting Old Testament scenes.
A splendid cliff path links Imerovigli with Fira and it is worth taking an evening stroll along it to get the best of the sunsets.