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Archaeological site · Fira, Egeu Meridional
Thera Antiga
Ruins of the Dorian city on the top of Mesa Vouno mountain, between Kamari and Perissa, with an agora, theater, temples and views of both beaches.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Thera Antiga
Ancient Thera occupies the ridge of Mesa Vouno mountain, more than 350 meters above sea level, between the beaches of Kamari and Perissa. It was founded by Dorian settlers from Sparta around the 9th century BC and grew in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, when it served as the base for the Ptolemaic fleet. The city's two ports were located where Kamari and Perissa are today.
What you see are the foundations and columns of a stone city aligned along the ridge: the agora, about 110 meters long, the Stoa Basilike, a theater for 1,500 people facing the sea, temples, houses with cisterns, and the sanctuary of Apollo at the end. There are inscriptions carved into the rock and remains of Byzantine churches, showing the place remained inhabited for centuries.
The ascent is made via a winding road from Kamari, by car or van, or on foot via trails that start from Kamari and Perissa, taking about an hour's hike. It is very windy at the top and there is no shade. The site usually closes one day a week and has reduced opening hours in winter; check before you go.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 1.5 hours on site; add 30 minutes to 1 hour to go up and down, depending on the means of transport.
Best time
Early in the morning, before the heat and the strong afternoon wind. On very windy days the visit can be unpleasant at the top of the ridge. Check the weekly closing day.
How to get there
From Kamari, via a narrow, winding road to the parking area at the top, by car or with the vans that go up from the beach in season. On foot, via a trail from Kamari or Perissa, about an hour's ascent. Buses from Fira reach Kamari and Perissa.
Tip
Bring water, a hat and closed shoes: the ground is loose stone and there is no shade. From the ridge you can see both beaches, one on each side; it's a good spot for photos early in the morning.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Thera Antiga
Are Thera Antiga and Akrotiri the same place?
No. Akrotiri is the Bronze Age town in the south of the island, buried by the volcano. Thera Antiga is the later Dorian town, much newer, on the mountain top between Kamari and Perissa.
Can you walk up to Thera Antiga?
Yes—by trails starting from Kamari and Perissa, about an hour's climb. The road for cars starts from Kamari.
Does the site have shade or water?
No. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen, and visit in the morning if possible.