A Spectacular Sunset & Blue Hour From The Old Castle Of Oia
After we kept our belongings safely in our room, my sister and I made our way out to the main pedestrian marble street in Oia and set out to explore the island on foot. Since we visited Santorini during the low nearing the off season, most of the establishments on the island were closed for business. However, the island remains a beauty and offers many opportunities for photography – minus the overwhelming crowd of people which is great! 😀
We walked till we came to the end of the island and instead of finding the iconic three blue domes, we found ourselves looking at the site of what looks like the ruins of a centuries-old castle or fortress. Many people were seen taking photographs and enjoying the 360-degree picturesque view of the sea and island. Later, I found out that the old castle of Oia is also known as Fort Londsa.
The old castle or Fort Londsa happens to be the perfect spot in Oia to watch the sun go down in the horizon, revealing a spectacular and magical sight of the town of Oia at dusk, showcasing the iconic cave houses and windmills in the background. It is said that the best place to watch the sunset in Santorini is in Oia and I could not agree more with that. Do take note that the spot will be crammed with people, especially during summer where people flock to the island for a holiday.
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Finding The Iconic Three Blue Domes in Oia
The next day, my sister and I continued our quest to look for the iconic three blue domes in Oia. We spotted the blue domes when we were enjoying the sunset view from the old castle a.k.a Fort Londsa. The blue domes are located on the steep cliff overlooking the caldera. Spotting the blue domes from afar was easy, but getting to its location was not an easy task. 😛
Our quest for the iconic three blue domes made us walked through a labyrinth of narrow cobbled paths on the steep cliff that twist and turn in a never-ending maze of confusion. There were no signboards directing us to the location of the blue domes. We merely trusted our instincts and guessed the correct path. As a matter of fact, by sheer luck or coincidence, a street dog actually showed us the correct entrance that leads us to the right path from the main pedestrian marble street in Oia. Bless that dog.
After some time, we finally found the location of the iconic three blue domes! As pictured on the postcards, the blue domes stood magnificently and looked astonishing right before our eyes. It was a sight to behold! We met a young couple there who told us that they took 5 days and has travelled all over the entire island in search of the iconic three blue domes on the island. Little did they know that the iconic three blue domes are located in Oia. Thankfully, my sister and I managed to find it on our second day in Oia. 😀
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Directions To The Iconic Three Blue Domes’ Location
The iconic three blue domes are located below a row of buildings on the steep cliff in Oia. It is an approximately 3-minute walk from the Oia Caldera Square (where stood the Church of Panagia Platsani). From the square, turn right and walk along the marbled main pedestrian street. Turn left at Lotza Restaurant. The iconic three blue domes are just below and to the left of Lotza Restaurant.
Alternatively, from the square, turn right and walk past a small church. Turn left at the second lane where you will see a sign for Aspaki Hotel. Once you are standing behind the church, you will be able to see the iconic three blue domes below and to the right. Good luck and have fun looking for the iconic three blue domes in Oia! 😉
Up next: A scrumptious Greek lunch over a picturesque view of the caldera and the Aegean Sea at Skala Restaurant