Overview

With approximately 1600 residents, it is located northwest and is the capital of the island.
The position of the island';s capital on the brow of the volcanic cliffs reflects the dramatic challenges the people of Santorini have faced with the forces of nature. Prevailing over the sheer cliff faces, the locals were able to secure their homes on graduated planes using inexpensive materials found in abundance on the island. The result was a magical settlement literally hanging on the cliffs edge. Here, the archways, and the domes of their dugout homes in the slate cliffs captivate with their frugality and economy of space they provide.
The brilliant white of the asbestos painted homes, refreshes, and dominates the picture of Fira, whilst splashes of indigo and orange distinguish the church domes in town. The superimposed terraces of the houses -; today transformed into trendy cafes -; offer an unimpeded view of the Aegean. The magical setting of these houses of Fira, designed into the hillside along small, narrow cobbled stone streets, such a wonder in space economy, reaching into every available inch, yet in wonderful harmony with the natural environment are, along with Ia, what the American tourist magazines have characterized as the most beautiful towns in the world. The master craftsman of Santorini has used every available metre, every corner, every cavity within the hard cliff face and enclosed these spaces with curved walls and rooms, resulting in an ethereal ambience and creating a light and airy habitat.