Megalochori is a rock village (dug into the bed of a torrent) in the interior of the island that is known to have existed since at least the middle of the 17th century. A small place (its name means 'big village', but that appears to be mere euphemism), but a lively community with a fairly large permanent population.

Come to Megalochori in the afternoon, after a day spent on one of the southern beaches. Walk its streets, exchange greetings with the local people relaxing in their geranium covered courtyards and don't leave your camera behind: you will certainly want to take home a picture of the unusual bell-towers on these churches, which are quite different from any-thing else on the island.

During the grape harvest, Megalochori becomes a totally different place. Grapes are spread out on the terraces of the houses to be made into visanto or raisins, heavily laden baskets are carried back and forth, and in general the place is caught up in the frenzy of wine-making. Three of the island's wineries are located in Megalochori - Boutaris, Antoniou and Iliopoulos.

Opened from morning till late afternoon, it welcomes large numbers of visitors every day, who are escorted around the underground cellars, shown a multimedia projection on the history of Santorini and its wine, and offered samples of the various wines in the lovely domed visitor's gallery.

Megalochori attracts a fair number of tourist, choose it as a handy base for exploring the island: it is not faraway from Fira, and within easy distance of Akrotiri and the beaches of the Southeastern coast. There are number of small hotels around the village and along the Caldera.