Place to see: Agios Minás, Firopótamos, Greece

Agios Minás

Agios Minás by John Linton

This is the church whose blue dome and white bell tower dominates that well know Santorini photo. As soon as I landed and took the Teleferik (cable car) up to the town of Fira that stretches out along the spine of Santorini I showed people the picture and asked where I should go to take one of my own.

Agios Minás

About this place:

As you approach Santorini it becomes abundantly clear that the island is only the largest fragment of a volcano that blew itself apart long ago. The town of Fira is perched hundreds of feet above sea level with steep drop offs as far as the eye can see. When you land you either can walk the 580 steps, ride a donkey up the 580 steps, or take the Teleferik (cable car) up to the top. Be forewarned, if you are bothered by heights the Teleferik ride might not be for you.

Once I got to the top, I asked where I should go to try and take the same picture of the Agios Minás' blue church dome and white bell tower that has become the symbol of Santorini. I was surprised to find they had painted the church. The dome was now white not blue and the bell tower was now red not white. I also quickly realized the only way to replicate the famous picture was to be able to shoot from the other bell tower and that wasn't going to happen. I just stood there and took the best picture I could.

We wandered the streets, looked in the shops, and took the stairs to the rooftop bar of the Stani Restaurant where we savored Santorini's amazing visitas over Ouzo. The sunset was amazing.

Postcards about Agios Minás:

  • John Linton

    19 April 2008
    From:
    John Linton

    We sometimes travel with another couple and on this trip the women wanted to visit the Greek islands while the men wanted to visit Istanbul. We found a trip that would allow us to do both. We flew into Istanbul, spent a few days, then cruised the Aegean visiting Mykonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini, with a few days in Athens before the flight home.

    In Mykonos I came across The Shot, a picture of the Santorini's Agios Minás' blue dome and white bell tower that had become the symbol of that island. I told myself I'd try and recreate that shot when I got there.

    Once I made it to Fira, I showed people the picture of Agios Minás and asked where I should go to try and take the same picture. I was surprised to find they had painted the church. The dome was now white not blue and the bell tower was now red not white. I also quickly realized the only way to replicate the famous picture was to be able to shoot from the other bell tower and that wasn't going to happen. I just stood there and took the best picture I could.

    I soon forgot all about that picture. God, Santorini is gorgeous to behold. Everywhere you look there is a photo waiting to be taken. Oh, yeh, and the shops are OK and the Ouzo is great.

Firopótamos, Piraiós Nomós, GR

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Discovered by John Linton
on 18 April 2008.
453 views.