Created by a massive volcanic explosion that blew the middle out of the island some 3600 years ago, Santorini’s caldera, a huge sea-filled crater, is one of the world’s most dramatically beautiful natural sights, along with he island’s bizarre black sand beaches that rim the southeast coast. Perched 300m above the caldera, the cliff-top towns of Fira and Oia are made up of whitewashed Cycladic buildings and blue-domed churches (just like on the postcards), plus gourmet restaurants and lavish hotels with infinity pools. The island is very couple-oriented – Tara Reid and Zack Kehanyov had their honeymoon here in 2011 – and appeals to those who like their romance glitzy.
