Site archéologique · Greco-Roman city (Dorian, Hellenistic & Roman)

Ancient Thera

Mis à jour en 2026Vérifié sur placeOn the ridge of Mesa Vouno, between Perissa and Kamari

Ancient Thera is the ruined Greco-Roman city that crowns the long ridge of Mesa Vouno, its terraces, streets and temple foundations strung out high above Perissa and Kamari with the Aegean on both sides.

Stone ruins and walls of Ancient Thera on the Mesa Vouno ridge with the Aegean Sea beyond, Santorini
Ancient Thera · Greco-Roman city (Dorian, Hellenistic & Roman)
Période
Greco-Roman city (Dorian, Hellenistic & Roman)
Emplacement
On the mountain ridge high above the village
Entrée
Around €10 (raised from €6 in the late-2025 revision; about half reduced, free for under-18s & EU under-25s) · a €15 three-day ticket also covers Akrotiri and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera — confirm the current rate at the gate
Horaires
Usually daily except Wednesday, roughly 08:30–15:30 — seasonal, so check current times
Temps nécessaire
1.5–2 hours on site, plus the climb or drive
Note
4.6★ · 2,991 avis

Horaires et tarifs vérifiés pour la dernière fois en 2026 — ils changent, alors confirmez-les le jour même.

Histoire

Comment cela est né

Founded by Dorian settlers from Sparta — traditionally in the 9th century BCE — the city grew grandest in the 3rd century BCE, when Ptolemaic Egypt made it the naval base for its Aegean fleet and rebuilt it on a regular grid with officers' houses and a sanctuary to the Egyptian gods. Occupying the naturally defensible spine of Mesa Vouno, it stayed in use through the Roman period, for over a thousand years. Excavations have revealed houses, an agora, temples, cisterns and rock-cut inscriptions strung along the ridge.

Ce que vous verrez

Lors d'une visite

The long processional street, house and temple foundations, cisterns and rock carvings, and the huge views down to Perissa on one side and Kamari on the other.

Comment visiter

Reached by a steep road from the Sellada saddle above Kamari, or on foot by a demanding path up from Perissa or Kamari. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water and sun protection.

Meilleur moment

Early morning for cooler air and clear light along the ridge

Galerie

Comment s'y rendre

Emplacement
On the mountain ridge high above the village · On the ridge of Mesa Vouno, between Perissa and Kamari

Bon à savoir

You can drive up via the Sellada saddle above Kamari, or hike the steep path up from Perissa or Kamari. The site sits about 370 m above the sea; the Perissa footpath is short but steep, gaining around 350 m in roughly 45 minutes to an hour, so bring water, sun protection and good shoes.

Yes, especially for the setting — a whole Greco-Roman city laid out along a high ridge with sweeping views over both Perissa and Kamari and the open sea.

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