Santorini

Shaped by one of history's greatest volcanic eruptions, Santorini rises dramatically above a vast caldera unlike anywhere else in the Mediterranean. White villages, cave terraces and sweeping sea views create an enduring image of romance and architectural harmony.

Santorini is what remains of a volcanic island torn apart by the great Late Bronze Age eruption, more than three and a half thousand years ago. The sea flooded the collapsed centre, leaving a crescent of cliffs around a caldera. The Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, buried under ash, survives with its streets and frescoes as one of the finest prehistoric sites in Europe.

Along the rim run the villages that define the island’s image: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli beneath the rock of Skaros, and Oia at the northern tip. Inland, the slopes fall gently to the east, with black-sand beaches at Kamari and Perissa, and vineyards where Assyrtiko vines are trained low into basket shapes against the wind.

Hotels on the caldera generally open from April to October. July and August bring the highest temperatures and the most visitors, including cruise passengers who crowd Fira and Oia during the day; the villages are at their most atmospheric early in the morning and after the evening sunset crowds have dispersed.

May, June, September and early October are the best months for most travellers. The sea is swimmable from June, the light is clear and walking the cliff path from Fira to Oia, around ten kilometres along the rim, is comfortable outside the midday heat. Late in the season the vineyards are harvested, and the wineries are pleasant to visit.

The finest hotels look into the caldera: Mystique, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Santorini, built down the cliff below Oia; Canaves Oia Suites and Katikies Santorini, both in Oia; and Grace Hotel Santorini, Auberge Resorts Collection, in Imerovigli. Away from the rim, Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, occupies a restored estate in the wine village of Megalochori.

LVXVRY books Mystique and Vedema through Marriott STARS & Luminous — at the official hotel rate, with the privileges the programme attaches to the stay. For Canaves Oia, Katikies and Grace, LVXVRY advises on rooms and views and arranges the stay directly with the hotel. Caldera-view suites are few and are best reserved early.