The romantic Villa Ivi once provided the villagers with a safe haven from pirates who invaded the island. Today the villa provides a holiday home.

Ref: 36238 Price: E1,966 to E3,205 (EUR) p/w Sleeps 4

Located under the church of Aghi Anargyri with its wonderful bell tower, the Villa Ivi is a charming retreat from the hustle and bustle of Fira and Oia. Sheltered from the Cycladic winds, the traffic free village of Megalochori provides a peaceful and sought after alternative. The romantic Villa Ivi once provided the villagers with a safe haven from marauding pirates who invaded the island. Today the villa, with its cool vaulted interior, provides an enchanting holiday home.

Near to the picturesque village square with its Venetian architecture, the Villa Ivi is approached through painted blue doors which lead into a pretty and private courtyard, complete with the indulgence of an outdoor heated Jacuzzi. The central living room has a seating area, dining area and fully equipped kitchen. The large master bedroom has a view of the courtyard and a walk-in closet. A large bathroom, with modern amenities serves this bedroom whilst the second bedroom, with its own private entrance from the courtyard, has a bathroom en-suite.

The villa is suitable for two couples or a small family wanting a private retreat from which to explore the island.

Santorini is due to various geological occurences, many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes so violent as to change the shape of the island several times. Dorians, Venetians and Turks occupied Santorini, but its most influencial early inhabitants were the Minoans. They came from Crete some time between 2000 and 1600 BC, and the settlement of Akrotiri dates from the height of their great civilization.

The island then was circular and was called Kalisti of Stroggylis (the Round One). Around 1650 BC a chain of earthquakes and eruptions culminated in one of the largest explosions in the history of the planet. Thirty cubic kilometers of magma spewed forth and a column of ash 36 kilometers high jetted into the atmosphere. So much magma was ejected that the magma chambers of the volcano gave way and the centre of the island collapsed, leaving a caldera with high cliffs-one of the world's most dramatic geological sights. After the Big One, Santorini once again settled down for a time and was recolonised. In 236 BC volcanic activity resumed and separated Thirasia from the main land. The last major earthquake on the island, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale savaged the island in 1956. Should you walk around the villages, you will find many abandoned mansions from this period.

About Megalochorimegalochori (9.5 km from Fira) is a rock village dug into the bed of a torrent in the interior of the island that is know to have existed since at least the middle of the 17th century. A small place (the name means "Big Village") but with a lively community, old mansions, restored canavas and numerous churches. A picturesque settlement definitely worth a visit!