Oia, Cliffside village in Santorini, Greece.
Oia is a settlement on the northern tip of Santorini that spreads along the rim of the caldera, with white structures stepping down the volcanic cliff toward the Aegean. Narrow lanes connect different levels, while small squares open onto views of the caldera and neighboring islands.
The settlement grew during the late 1800s as a port for merchant ships, and by 1890 around 2,500 people lived here earning their living through Mediterranean trade. The earthquake of 1956 destroyed many buildings and reshaped the layout of the village permanently.
The Naval Museum occupies a mansion from the 1800s and holds charts, photographs and tools from the years when seafaring defined local life. Visitors can see how captain families organized their households and prepared for long voyages across the Mediterranean.
Ammoudi port sits below the settlement and can be reached by 235 steps or a paved road that leads down to taverns and small docks. Lanes inside the village are narrow and often sloped, so comfortable shoes and time for breaks help navigate the terrain.
Some dwellings are carved straight into the volcanic rock face and once served as cool storage for food or wine. These cave houses stand next to traditional captain residences that face the caldera.
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