Messa Gonia was one of the island's major wine-producing centers. Today, an idea of its former glory can be gleaned from a visit to the Roussos and Argyros wineries. It is only very recently that the first houses have begun to be repaired.

Tourists usually pass right through the village and go straight on to the only "sight" in this area, the church of Panagia Episkopi, the most important Byzantine monument on the island. Built in the 11th century by Emperor Alexios I Comnenus, it has an ornately carved screen (a rare example of the use of stone and mastic together) and fine wall-paintings. The church, which is open every morning, celebrates the Feast of the Dormition (15 August) in splendid style, with fiddles, lutes, dances and the traditional fava (yellow peas), tomato rissoles, olives, bread and local wine.

Do pay a visit to the Canava Roussos winery at the entrance to the village. In the cool rustic setting of this family concern continuing a tradition begun in 1836 - you will be conducted around the winery and offered taste samples of the wines produced here. And if the tasty titbits served with the wine give you an appetite, the village tavern serves a variety of traditional Santorini dishes.