Santorini, 2023 - Chasing Windmills

All too soon it was the final day of our holiday and to make the last glorious Santorini sunrise all the more memorable, we walked down to the beach and watched whilst the Aegean lapped around our ankles.

Still early, we decided to take a closer look at the windmills on which we'd admired from our roof terrace for the past two weeks.

The windmills stand on the ridge of Gavrilis hill, south west of the village of Emporio (which we visited HERE). Dating back to the 19th century when Emporio was a bustling trade centre, the windmills were built by Gavrilis, a wealthy landowner, who wanted to process the wheat and other grains produced in his fields. The mills were powered by the strong winds that blow across the island and they were a crucial part of the local economy.

As new technologies emerged, over time the windmills became obsolete and they fell into disrepair. By the 20th Century, many of the mills were abandoned with some used as storage rooms or dwellings. However, in 1993, the Ministry of Culture designated them as historical monuments and with renewed interest in preserving the windmills, several have been restored and turned into luxurious holiday lets.

The windmills of Gavrilis are impressive structures, each consisting of a circular stone tower, topped by a conical roof made of wooden planks. The roof is covered with tiles or thatch, depending on the era in which the mill was built, the tower has several levels, with narrow windows and a door at the base.Inside the tower, there is a circular room where the milling machinery was located. The machinery consisted of a large wooden wheel, called a millstone, which was turned by the wind. The grain was poured into a funnel at the top of the millstone, and it was ground into flour or meal.

Needless to say that its very windy up on Gavrilis Hill but the views are spectacular.

Other than a lady who waved and shouted Kalimera, there wasn't another soul to be seen.

An eye-watering €500 a night but what a fabulous place to stay....

The morning had started off overcast but, by mid-morning, the sun had burned through the clouds and it was, yet again, gloriously warm. We were happy to find a cafeteria at the top of Gavrilis Hill and enjoyed a couple of ice cold frappes whilst admiring the view.

We ascended to the very peak of the hill and couldn't help singing Mamma Mia at the top of our voices when we spotted the picturesque church of Profitas Ilias. Yep, I know Mamma Mia wasn't filmed on Santorini but we couldn't help ourselves! 

 

By the time we'd got changed and headed back to the beach we'd walked ten miles so didn't feel in the least bit guilty for indulging in massive bougatsas (custard pies) from the village bakery after our Greek salad lunch.After packing up our belongings we had a final rum & cola on the roof before Zoe dropped us off at the airport. When she embraced us and told us that she'd remember us for the rest of our lives I did my very best not to cry. 

From Mediaeval villages, ancient ruins and a museum dedicated to tomatoes to volcanos, hot springs and black sand beaches, Santorini exceeded all our expectations. Anyone who tells you that they've been and that the island been ruined by mass tourism clearly made no effort to look beyond Oia. As for the claims of it being f*cking expensive - it doesn't have to be - forget luxe living, Insta-worthy boutique hotels & hire cars - book yourself a cheap flight & leave the luggage at home (we paid £199 return travelling with a carry-on bag), make do with basic accommodation and use the island's brilliant bus service. 

Travel more, worry less.

Thanks for reading! See you soon.