The classic example of a rock village. As the coastal villagers did with the Caldera, so the people of the interior dug their houses into rocky walls of a ravine five long.

A stroll down the main street of Vothonas (which is simply the bed of the ravine) leaves you in awe of the wisdom and ingenuity of those village craftsmen, who knew how to build strong houses with the cheapest of materials and how to exploit the depth of the gully to protect them from the winds.

Architecturally, Vothonas is the strangest village on Santorini, and is worth a visit just for that reason. For the rest, it is a typical farming village, with a fair number of permanent residents. The bottom of the gorge is still the main thoroughfare. Leading off it, a tangle of paths climb up to the houses, a complex network of open and closed excavations, a unique and untouched architectural complex.

The impressive facades of the nobler villas, with their porticoes and pilasters, rise here and there from the humble succession of low, white domed houses. In the 19th century, Vothonas was a wealthy place. Do visit the windmill - if Kyr Yanni is there he will be glad to open it for you.

Another interesting place is the church of St Anna (the oldest in the village, built in 1827), whose carved wooden screen is decorated with scenes from the Old Testament. If you fancy a good walk, climb up to Panagia Trypa, built high on the rock as a refuge from pirate attack.