The Museum of Minerals and Fossils is located in Perissa. Established in 2006 by the Cultural Association of Thira, this museum has a wide variety of minerals and fossils from Thira, the rest of Greece and abroad.

The oldest exhibit of the museum is 1.5 billion years old, whereas the youngest is only 50,000 years old! Among the exhibits you will find a rich collection of valuable minerals from Lavrio, the place where famous mines used to be since the ancient times.

What stands out is the plant fossils of olive, mastic tree and palm that originate from the Caldera of Santorini, having an age about 60,000 years. Being rare and unique in the Mediterranean, they disclose the evolution of plants in Europe.

In Pyrgos' castle, in Santorini, a special exhibition operates that displays Byzantine icons and church relics. In the exhibition, which was founded in 1997 and is housed in the church of Agia Triada, you can admire among others:

• Icons made of Santorinian and Cretan hagiographers
• Ecclesiastical embroidery and vestments
• Woodcarvings

and numerous other ecclesiastical objects.

For more information about the Icons & Relics Collection of Pyrgos, please contact the phone 22860- 31812.

The Museum 'Vanishing Santorini " is in Pyrgos, Santorini' s beautiful inland village.

After restorating an old traditional canavas (winery) in 1895, the creator of the museum Giannis Chrisos has created a very special space, in which the traditional lifestyle of a "Vanishing Santorini" is presented.

Here you can learn everything concerning traditional winemaking and the creation of the famous Santorini wine, starting from the collection of grapes. You will also have the chance to see first hand all the traditional ways of processing the two other renowned products of Santorini, split peas and tomato.

A special part of the museum is the representation of an old rural house with authentic old furniture and tools, as well as the display of old professions that no longer exist - such as cooper and tinker.

Luckily for you, the museum cooperates with a restaurant where visitors can have a full gastronomic experience with traditional greek spices. Of course, around the corner you will also find a gift shop.

More information can be found in www.santorini-museum.com and the number 22860-31101.

The Archaeological Museum of Santorini is located in Fira (very close to the teleferic) and it hosts findings covering all periods of the island's history, such as:

• Sculptures and inscriptions from the Archaic to the Roman era
• Ceramic and terracotta figurines from the Geometric to the Hellenistic era
• Objects from the cemetery of Ancient Thira

More information about the Archaeological Museum of Santorini can be found in the number 22860 – 22217.

The Museum of Prehistoric Thira is located in Fira. In its halls you will admire findings from the excavations in Akrotiri and many other parts of the island. Among the most important exhibits are the impressive frescoes and mobile objects from the settlement of Akrotiri. It is no exaggeration to say that in essence, the Museum of Prehistoric Thira is its expansion. In the museum there are also exhibitions that give visitors a picture of the rich archaeological history of the island.

For more information contact the Museum of Prehistoric Thira: phone 22860 23217.

For those who love theater and cannot give away with it even during vacations, Santorini can make things easy.

In White Door Theatre in Fira, a special performance is organized every year, with the greek feeling being intense. Basically it is a complete representation of a Greek wedding in 1940, in which the spectators attending the show, are also the guests. More information can be found in www.santorinimusicfestival.com and the number 22860- 21770.

Also several theatrical performances are hosted:

• in Santorini arts factory (www.santoriniartsfactory.gr and tel. 22860 85141).
• in Gyzi Megaron ( www.megarogyzi.gr and tel. 22860 23077),

and in other parts of the island, especially in summer.

For more information contact the Cultural Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) in number 22860- 24828.

Of course, the visual arts could not be missing from Santorini, an island characterized by its natural beauty

The permanent exhibition Santoseum (www.santozeum.com with tel. 22860 21722) has a collection of quite impressive natural sized 3D photographs of the frescoes that have been discovered in Akrotiri.

Also numerous art exhibitions with all kinds of art (painting, sculpture etc.) are organized:

• in Santorini arts factory (www.santoriniartsfactory.gr and tel. 22860 85141),
• in Gyzi Megaron ( www.megarogyzi.gr and tel. 22860 23077),
• in Art Space ( www.artspace-santorini.com and tel. 22860 32774),

but also in many galleries of the island and elsewhere, especially in summer.

For more information contact the Cultural Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) in number 22860- 24828.

For those who love live music, Santorini offers a variety of options.

Every year in Santorini the Santorini Jazz Festival is organized. The festival is held in August at Kamari and gathers jazz music enthusiasts from all around the world. World-known jazz musicians have taken part in this festival that every year becomes more and more famous.

Moreover, the International Music Festival of Santorini is yearly organized and it takes place in the early days of September in Fira. Each year prominent artists of classical and other kinds of music, take part. More information can be found in www.santorinimusicfestival.com and the number 22860- 23166.

A wide range of music events that include all kinds of music( gclassical, greek, traditional etc. ) are organized in Santorini arts factory (www.santoriniartsfactory.gr and tel. 22860 85141), in Gyzi Megaron ( www.megarogyzi.gr and tel. 22860 23077) and in other parts of the island, especially in summer.

For more information contact the Cultural Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) in number 22860- 24828.

The Lighthouse of Akrotiri is 18 km from Fira, close to the namesake village. It was built in 1892 by the company La Société Collas et Michel. Its tower has a height of 10 meters, it initially functioned with oil and its light was visible from a distance of 23 nautical miles. In 1983 electricity was used for its activation, while around 1988 it went fully automatic.

No matter the number of words that have been or will be written about the sunset in Santorini, nothing will ever be enough to describe it in all its splendor. The impressive caldera and magnificent views of the volcano, make the sunset in Santorini a sui generis spectacle. Visitors from all over the world come to enjoy it, fall in love or even get married in this majestic setting. An infinite number of films has been shot here, there are endless documentaries that exalt it and there is not even one visitor who went to Santorini and didn't get not only one but several pictures of this truly wonderful sunset. It is more than a view, it's an experience. If you have not yet been a part of it, book now. And if you have... Well, there is no need for words. Now you know better and you'll surely come back to Santorini and enjoy it.