Vothonas is a small rock village and architecturally it is one of the strangest villages on Santorini.
A tangle of paths climb up to the cave houses – some perfectly restored and others derelict and deserted.
It’s a complex network of open and closed excavations, almost like being on an archaeological dig in places.
As the coastal villagers did with the Caldera, so the people of the interior dug their houses into rocky walls of ravines.
The houses come in all shapes and sizes and in all states of disrepair.
The village is as traditional as they come. With meandering, sun bleached alleys, tiered rows of bells adorning the village church and weather worn doors aplenty.
High on the hillside this duck egg blue church welcomes dedicated (and athletic!) worshippers.
Back in the maze of streets you can spot every shade of pastel paint and this heavy duty wooden door has so many bolts that you have to wonder what it is they are hiding!
A traditional feature of many Santorini churches are the multi layered rows of bells that form pleasing patterns against the blue sky.
Agia Anna is the oldest church of the village that dates back to 1827.
The most beautiful part of the church is actually the carved wooden panels inside which portray scenes from the Old Testament.
As you aimlessly wander and enjoy the slow, peaceful pace of life, take a moment to appreciate the village craftsmen. They knew how to build strong houses with the cheapest of materials and exploited the depth of the gully to protect them from the winds.
To end our little mooch around Vothonas here’s a trio of perfectly coloured windows and doors.
