Three Bells of Fira, Catholic church in Fira, Greece.
The Three Bells of Fira is a Catholic church on Santorini with a distinctive blue dome and bell tower positioned directly on the western cliff edge of the island. The building sits atop the cliff and offers open views across the Aegean Sea and the volcanic landscape.
The original structure dates to 1757, but suffered severe damage from the powerful 1956 earthquake that affected the island. Reconstruction was necessary to restore it to its current form.
The church takes its name from three bells that once defined its appearance and remain part of local memory. From many spots in town, visitors can spot the blue dome, which has become an enduring symbol of the island.
The church stands in Fira, directly above the cliffs that dominate western Santorini. Visitors reach it on foot through the town; the immediate ground near the cliff edge is steep, so watch your step. The church's feast day is 15 August.
The site's mid-17th-century cave churches were not simply abandoned: as the cliff face receded through the expansion of Fira, they were destroyed and an infirmary took their place. Jesuits then lived on the site until the land passed to the Diocese of Santorini, and the present church followed in 1757.
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