The Ancient City Of Thira
Mesa Vouno is the name of the enormous rocky mountain that rises from the sea in the background of Perissa. The mountain lies in between of the beach of Perissa from Kamari, separating the two unique beaches from one another. Visitors are left spellbound by the stunning view of the rocky mountain especially when it shines in the dark. 😉
On the top of the mountain lies the ruin of the ancient city of Thira, said to have originally been a colony of the Spartans. Visitors can climb up there from Perissa in about an hour, following a gravelly trail that zigzags its way up the barren slope to the Sellada Pass that joins Mesa Vouno to the biggest mountain on the island, Profitis Elias.
The entrance fee to the archaeological site of Ancient Thira is €2 per person. If one has the time and energy to spend, the historical site is well worth a visit. My sister and I decided to visit Ancient Thira at another time due to the lack of time and improper attire.
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Local Bus Ride From Oia To Perissa (Via Fira)
The beach paradise is situated 15 km southeast of Fira, extending for 7 km on the south-eastern side of Santorini. Visitors can easily get there by car, quad bikes or like us, by bus – taking the local bus ride from Fira to Perissa.
I mentioned in one of my earlier blog posts that there is a well-organised public bus service on the island of Santorini, connecting the airport to Fira (where the central bus station is located) and various destinations on the island. Read the info and get the respective timetables plus bus fares for the busses here. 😀
That said, my sister and I made our journey from Oia to Perissa, happily changing busses at the central bus station in Fira. The scenic journey from Oia to Fira, then to Perissa took about an hour. The bus ride from Oia to Fira costs €1.80 per person (one way), whereas the bus ride from Fira to Perissa costs €2.30 per person (one way).
In Perissa, the local bus dropped its passengers at the bus stop located across the road of The Blue Flag Restaurant. The establishment also happens to be a boat station offering boat rides to the Red Beach and Kamari. At the seafront of the restaurant lies the famous Black Sand Beach.
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The Black Sand Beach – Of Fine Black Sand Grains & Smooth Colourful Pebbles
It was our first time being in Perissa, and standing on a black sand beach. So naturally, my sister and I were very excited to be at the Black Sand Beach and cannot wait to explore the area, soak our feet in the water and play in the sand! Like little girls, we hurried across the road towards the beach.
On the beach, we spent an entire minute standing in awe of the beautiful scenery before us; breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the cold sea breeze and basking in the peace and serenity surrounding us. We felt as if time stood still when we were there. 😀
The sandy beach, like its name, is black in colour. The black sand grains are fine and smooth to the touch. However, we were in for a surprise! As we walked further down the beach, the fine sand grains are replaced by smooth pebbles of a variety of colours, shapes and sizes. It was a one-of-a-kind sight – uniquely Perissa.
Now, although those pebbles are fun to watch and play with, they are not fun to walk on barefoot at midday, especially during hot summer days where the pebbles are scorching hot to the touch. Do take note of that especially when one plans to visit the Black Sand Beach during summer months.
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The Little Mermaid Rock & The Warm Aegean Sea
My sister and I visited Santorini during the late autumn where it was cold but surprisingly, the crystal-clear waters of the Aegean Sea was relatively warm! We thought it would be cold, but a dip into the sea proved otherwise. Needless to say, we had a splashing time at the beach.
Unfortunately, no mermaids were spotted during our visit to the Black Sand Beach. The Little Mermaid Rock is actually a name I gave to a cluster of big rocks lying on the black sand beach. Since it looks like the spot where TheLittle Mermaid would sit and sing her heart out as she admires the beauty of the sea, I decided to gave it that name. 😉
Whether there are mermaids or not, it is undeniable that the cluster of rocks make a wonderful spot for photography – featuring the Black Sand Beach on the foreground and a glimpse of Mesa Vouno rocky mountain and the beautiful Agean Sea in the background. The photos taken at the The Little Mermaid Rock serve as a wonderful memento of our amazing time at the Black Sand Beach, Perissa.
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Beautiful Blue Domed Churches, Lavish Greek Restaurants / Taverns & Sunset By The Beach
There are many restaurants and taverns that serve good traditional Greek and international cuisine to visitors of the beach in Perissa. Sadly, I could not recommend any particular restaurants in the area for my sister and I did not patronise any of the establishments there.
We did however, explored the surrounding areas of the beach that lead us to the discovery of an interestingblue domed church located at the corner of the road / junction. It is the Church of Holy Cross, among the largest churches in Santorini. Unlike the churches that I have seen in Oia and Fira, this blue domed church in Perissa looks slightly different; it has an interesting-looking bell tower / minaret that captured my attention. 😀
Since it was getting late, we did not stay long at the church and hurried back to the Black Sand Beach to watch the sunset. It was a priceless experience, one that we will remember for life. After that, we made our way towards the bus stop and took the second last bus back to Fira (5.30pm). At the central bus station in Fira, we took a bus back Oia (6.50pm) where we had a simple dinner and a good night’s rest.
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Up next: Sightseeing in Fira town and our delectable frozen Greek yoghurt experience