In the picturesque village of Pyrgos stands a precious gem in a wine vineyard, Saint Antonio Chapel. Almost 100 years ago, when Santorini was trying to recover from the recent volcanic eruption, the locals found out that the grapes grown in this volcanic soil could produce exquisite wine varieties. Thus, the majority of them used their farms for wine production and wine growing was their main source of income. Saint Antonio Chapel was built in the vineyard to thank God and Saint Antonio for their blessings.
Pyrgos Village
Pyrgos is situated 8 km southeast of the capital of Santorini, Fira. The village is located on a fabulous spot on the top of a hill that offers superb views of both sides of the island. Pyrgos used to be the capital of the island until the early 1800s. Today Pyrgos counts more than 500 inhabitants and it is a major tourist attraction. The village still preserves the structure and characteristics of the fortified Venetian town, and is formed by traditional Cycladic houses, Byzantine churches, and Medieval manors built around a Venetian castle. From the castle you’ll have an incredible panoramic view of the whole island. The village has many blue domed churches and chapels, many of which have existed for more than 100 years. Saint Antonios is one of these chapels, built in a huge wine vineyard, having 100 years history.