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images: CELEBRITY CRUISES / Frances Janisch; AWL IMAGES |
Clockwise from left: the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes; bronze doe and stag statues at Mandraki Harbor in Rhodes; a typical lunch with grilled eggplant; a musician plays in Oia village, Santorini; shrimp and scallop kebabs at Lawn Club Grill restaurant on board Celebrity Eclipse |
SANTORINI
This island’ s steep cliffs, covered in sugarcube houses and blue-domed churches, are truly iconic— but the reason for its color scheme is entirely practical. Whitewashing reflects the sun’ s rays, while blue paint was left over by fishermen painting their boats. It soon came to symbolize the colors of the Greek sea and sky.
Should you want to capture these scenes for yourself, the villages of Fira and Oia are the places to be— and as you’ ll arrive early in the morning, you can beat the crowds at famous photo spots like the Agios Spyridon church.
On the historical side, the Bronze Age archaeological site of Akrotiri parallels the story of Pompeii. This Cycladic settlement once thrived on fishing and farming, but a volcanic eruption around 1600 B. C. E. buried the town deep in volcanic ash.
Santorini’ s explosive past has blessed it with a mineral-rich terroir. Wine tastings reveal the island’ s signature grape, the powerful Assyrtiko, while youthful microbreweries are helping it make a name for itself in craft beer. Its best-loved product, though, is cherry tomatoes— and staying late means you can pick a taverna with beautiful views to try local tomato fritters.
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RHODES
Rhodes’ main town is defined by an imposing set of battlements: a two-mile wall constructed by the crusading Knights Hospitaller. Successive powers have tried( and often failed) to conquer this island; see if you can spot the marks they left, from stone reliefs bearing the cross of St. John to bullet holes from Second World War battles.
To learn more about Rhodes’ checkered past, discover the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, a turreted fortress that underwent heavy restoration in the 1930s, when Italy ruled the island. It soon became a vacation home for dictator Benito Mussolini— look out for his name on a huge, black plaque by the entrance.
The satisfyingly symmetrical Street of the Knights leads down into Rhodes Old Town, which offers a charming mix of gothic ruins, Ottoman clock towers and souvenir boutiques selling items ranging from Greek coffee sets to colorful figurines.
As well as urban charm, Rhodes offers the archetypal Greek island experience. The breathtaking Acropolis of Lindos is an hour’ s drive south, sandwiched between two turquoise bays. Climb the hill to the Doric temple at the top, and you’ ll be rewarded with astonishing Rhodes panoramas.
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SPRING 2026 • 63 |