The people of Santorini know how to have a good time. Summer is the season of festivities, mainly religious ones. Attending one will bring you that much closer to the local culture. Make sure to be at Santorini around the 15th of August, which is when many churches and monasteries around the island celebrate the Assumption of Mary. At Kamari, Oia and Perissa, you will see people dancing, enjoying local delicacies and generally having lots of fun.
The staples of the Mediterranean diet are the staples of Santorini. Fresh fish, juicy tomatoes, dried herbs that grow on the island, various kinds of soft cheese will make for a delicious meal. Accompany them with the famous Santorini wines. A surprising way to taste the best recipes of Santorini is during Dandelion Travel’s wine tour. Many wineries will cook for you some of the greatest delicacies of the island, so the wine tasting can be that much better.
Santorini is also famous for its colorful beaches, due to the volcano. Perissa hosts the famous black beach, which is also the longest beach on the island, fully organized with umbrellas, beach chairs and shops (among which is a beach bar). Adjacent Perivolos’ beach is also black. Of special interest is the red beach, that is a bit harder to get to. Admittedly, the best beach of Santorini is Vlichada, a very organized beach with red cliffs looming over the swimmers.
Good climate, good soil and a centuries-old tradition are responsible for the excellent wines of Santorini, another source of pride for the people of the island. Dandelion Travel can take you on a wine tour of Santorini to taste Vinsanto and Assyrtiko, as well as some of the local delicacies. Santorini has a lot of traditional wineries to choose from, as well as some new, boutique wineries, that can show you a new twist on the wine experience.