Thirasia: Paths and Churches in Manolás

In Manolás, a path to Korfos and two churches are the main points of interest. The path combines orientation in the village with a climb; the churches add different historical details to this picture.

Manolás: the path to Korfos

A winding path connects Manolás with Korfos, the village’s port. The paved path between the port of Korfos and Manolás has approximately 250 steps; another figure gives around 270. The traditional way to make the ascent is on foot or by mule. For orientation, the name Korfos identifies the destination as the village’s port. The step count should be understood as an estimate: about 250 to 270 steps, not an exact tally.

In Manolás, the Church of Agios Ioannis is one of the village’s notable churches. The Church of Agios Konstantinos is dated to 1874. These offer different points of reference: Agios Ioannis is identified as a sight worth visiting, while a historical year is given for Agios Konstantinos. This means cultural interests can be guided either by a church noted as a sight or by a specific construction date.

Santorini as the broader context

Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades. Its caldera was formed by a massive eruption around 1600 BC; at the same time, the island group is characterized by a landscape with active volcanoes. At Vlychada Beach, wild, pale cliffs form a distinctive moonscape. The Santorini context thus ranges from the formation of the caldera to a striking coastal landscape.

The hiking routes are also clearly distinct. Paths connect Pyrgos with Profitis Ilias, Emporio and Ancient Thera. A path along the caldera’s edge leads from Imerovigli to Oia and offers views of the sea, caldera and volcano. The endpoints illustrate the different route patterns: paths from Pyrgos to several destinations contrast with a route along the caldera’s edge with named viewpoints.

On Santorini, Pyrgos was designated a protected settlement in 1995. The ecclesiastical collection at the Profitis Ilias Monastery in Pyrgos opened as a permanent exhibition in August 1997. The dates relate to different historical aspects: the village’s protected status and the opening of the collection.

Regional products on Santorini

Santorini Fava is a PDO product made from the cotyledons of the legume Lathyrus clymenum L., which grows exclusively in Thera’s volcanic soil. The Santorini tomato is also a PDO product and has been cultivated since the early 19th century. Regional cuisine also includes the white Santorini eggplant, with its sweet aroma and juicy flesh that does not absorb oil when fried, as well as Chloro, a creamy goat’s cheese produced on Santorini in very limited quantities. Local chefs make tomato fritters called Tomatokeftedes with PDO cherry tomatoes.

Discover more destinations: Anafi, Agios Georgios, Pyrgos, Psathi, Karterados, Thira, Íos, Imerovigli.

For the broader travel overview: Santorini.