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Pyrgos Kallistis, whom everyone simply calls Pyrgos, is located at the central part of Santorini, a hilly medieval village with panoramic views of the whole island, easily accessible in a few minutes from both the port and the airport of Santorini.
This hillside village was declared a protected settlement in 1995.
Pyrgos is one of the five typical fortified settlements of Santorini. On the hilltop there is the famous “Kasteli”, the ancient ruins of the old Venetian Castle. Pyrgos was the capital of Santorini from the middle 18th century, and the center of education, with the secret school church “Agi Aposotli” and the monastery of Prophet Elias.
The picturesque village, the highest in Santorini, is preserving its traditional and local Cycladic architecture with its neo-classical mansions and small white houses, narrow paths leading up the central castle, galleries, vineyards, churches.
Its labyrinthine structure was intended to make this place safer and more protected and to confuse enemies who ventured inside and regularly got lost.
During Orthodox Easter, the village is filled with torches creating a mystical atmosphere visible from everywhere on the island and directly from the windmill, thanks to its dominant position.
Near Pyrgos one can find the famous Monastery of Prophet EIias, located at the highest point on the island. The monastery operates since 1711 AD and carries a long history as well encloses an important museum with ecclesiastical items, Icons and Relics Collection.
