oia

Oia, often spelled Ia, is a village on the northwestern tip of the island of Santorini in the Cyclades archipelago of the Aegean Sea, Greece. It sits on the edge of the caldera and is part of the municipality of Santorini in the South Aegean region. With a small permanent population, Oia is a major tourist destination known for its dramatic cliffside setting and panoramic sea views.

Architecture and scenery: The town showcases traditional Cycladic architecture—whitewashed houses stacked along narrow, stair-stepped lanes, blue-domed churches, and windmills perched above the sea. The caldera-facing streets and terraces give the area its iconic skyline, especially at sunset.

History and culture: Oia developed as a fishing and trading settlement and later evolved into a center for tourism and art. It retains remnants of medieval fortifications such as the Kastro, a fortress ruins overlooking the sea, and a network of terraces that overlook the caldera.

Economy and access: Today, the local economy is dominated by tourism, with hotels, restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Oia is connected by road to Fira and other parts of Santorini; visitors typically arrive by car, bus, or cruise-ship excursions and navigate the town's pedestrian lanes that run along the cliff.