Pyrgos is one of Santorini's oldest villages, built on a hill in the island's interior, with white houses, narrow cobbled lanes and a Venetian castle at the top. North Santorini - A Luxury Spa Hotel is on the ring road in Pyrgos, 260 m from the Venetian castle, and suits couples and anyone looking for a quieter setting than the busy parts of the caldera.
There are wineries in the area, including Canava Roussos, 970 m away, and the Church of Panagia Episkopi, 1.3 km away, one of the island's oldest churches. Kamari Beach, with its dark volcanic sand, is 3.1 km away, and Fira bus station is 3.9 km away. Ancient Thera and the archaeological site of Akrotiri are among the places worth visiting by car or on an excursion.
The best time to visit the island is from May to October, and the sea is still warm in September, with fewer crowds. The meltemi often blows in July and August. One idea for a day: a morning stroll through the lanes of Pyrgos, lunch with Assyrtiko at one of the area's wineries, an afternoon at the spa and sunset in Oia, with its white houses above the caldera. Santorini is quieter in winter and some businesses close. The island's vines are trained into a basket shape, known as kouloura, to protect the grapes from the island's strong winds.