If you want to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, then you cannot miss the spectacle from the Akrotiri Lighthouse. It is located in the southwestern part of the romantic Santorini Island right on its extreme tip. At about eighteen kilometers the capital Thira while on the opposite side of the island another strategic point, the Oia village but that’s another story.

Two words about the Akrotiri village are a must. First of all, the area is well known to the world above all for the famous archaeological site as well as a heritage of humanity where there are the finds of a city considered to be at the forefront compared to the era in which it was built. Ancient port city dating back to the Bonzo Age, it was destroyed and buried with the terrifying eruption of the volcano in 1628 BC which changed forever the history and morphology of the whole Aegean to be rediscovered in 1967. Nowadays the village Akrotiri has become a very popular destination especially for its beautiful lighthouse from which you can see a sunset that would melt even the most icy heart.

Perched on the cliff it is all uphill that gradually becomes more and more steep and demanding but it is absolutely worth it because it will be like being catapulted back in time. In the upper part you will meet the Byzantine Church with a bell tower that seems almost to touch the sky and the Castle of the Venetian era with its watchtower overlooking the whole Aegean and its beautiful red stone door, meeting the houses from the very particular architecture but completely in tune with the landscape that only Santorini can offer. A succession of narrow mazes so as to be able to even get confused and lose orientation which, however, suddenly appear on the highest part of Akrotiri where the view of the Caldera is something to see with your own eyes because it is difficult to explain with the just words.

The Lighthouse is located about ten minutes from the village but the main problem is the overcrowding that occurs during twilight, everyone wants to enjoy this magnificent gift of Mother Nature from here at least once. It is located right on the edge of a majestic and high cliff overlooking the sea and was built by a French company in 1892 during the period of Ottoman occupation, it was one of the first to be erected in Greece in fact it is considered one of the most ancient of the whole nation. The tower is 10 meters high from the guardian’s house while the focal height is 100 meters. A mighty white-walled building that stands like a sentry over the sea, initially fueled by petrol, disused during the Second World War but which revived in 1945 thanks to a reconstruction by the Greek Navy. In 1988 it becomes automatic thanks to the introduction of electricity and today it is no longer managed by a human being who once were four who took care of it, but electronically emitting a radiant light at intervals every twenty seconds that can be seen up to 24 nautical miles away. In the lower part there is a caretaker’s apartment but it is not accessible to the public inside, you can only walk around it.

Given its elevated position overlooking the entire Santorini Island, it is a point where you can clearly see the sun that in its majesty and its fiery red color plunges into the blue of the sea and believe us it is a spectacle that will leave you speechless, only the emotions will be the masters.

You sit on the external stone wall, someone also tries to climb or descend a little lower than you, the choice and responsibility of the danger since the rock wall can also crumble as you pass and expects that Nature takes its course by giving colors that can range from a thousand shades of orange to red or purple, a free and healthy color therapy for the mind, a moment of pure magic.

After the ecstasy, you can stop for a nice fish-based dinner as the surrounding area is teeming with typical taverns and some even gourmet taverns where you can enjoy excellent dishes and always have the mysterious and fascinating Caldera as a panorama.

The Akrotiri Lighthouse is located exactly on the route from Piraeus to Alexandria in Egypt.

Impossible not to find the way! If you are autonomous and have a car or a moped (in Santorini we recommend the scooter less trouble finding parking), just go southwest following the main road and road signs for Akrotiri.

Once you arrive you can leave your vehicle in the free space and look for your place while waiting for the sun to go down.If, on the other hand, you are not independent, you can always opt for a taxi, or look for where you have decided to stay during your holiday in Santorini for the public services that serve the island, always paying attention to the timetables.

A stop to be included absolutely in the things to see in Santorini, sacrilege if you don’t and a great shame because you would miss a very interesting area as well as a phenomenon to put tightly in your suitcase of memories.