Santorini is Greece's most visited island — and one of its most paradoxically derelict. The catastrophic 1956 earthquake (7.8 magnitude) destroyed a large portion of the island's buildings and drove thousands of residents to flee to the mainland, leaving dozens of cave houses and village sections abandoned for decades. In Pyrgos, upper floors were demolished after the quake and ground floors filled with rubble; in Oia, some sixty derelict cave houses stood empty for fifty years before tourism transformed them into luxury hotels. The few that were never renovated remain — volcanic stone shells with caldera views, frozen since 1956. Discover the 5 best abandoned places in Santorini, selected from our Greece Urbex Map — 60+ verified GPS locations.
Why Santorini Has a Hidden Derelict Heritage
The 1956 earthquake that devastated Santorini created a specific abandonment typology invisible to most tourists — cave houses sealed under rubble, Venetian castle sections condemned and emptied, upper village quarters derelict while the caldera-facing terraces were transformed into luxury hotels. The volcanic stone and the extraordinary Aegean light make Santorini dereliction unlike anything in Europe.
1. Abandoned Cave Houses – Pyrgos, Santorini — 1956 Earthquake, Upper Floors Demolished, Ground Floors Sealed with Rubble, Venetian Castle Village, 360° Island Views (Known Location)
In the 1956 earthquake, the castle of Pyrgos did not suffer too much from damage, but many houses were condemned shortly afterwards and upper floors were demolished, filling the ground floors with rubble. Many inhabitants of the kastelli were forced to move out and built new homes on the lower slopes of the village. The sealed cave house openings, the partially collapsed upper structures and the extraordinary 360° panoramic views of Santorini from the kastelli make Pyrgos the finest earthquake abandonment site on the island — still visible among the restored village buildings.
🔗 Sources: Demeter Cave House – Pyrgos Santorini | ProtoThema – The Miracle of Santorini
2. Derelict Cave House – Oia, Santorini — 1956 Earthquake Abandonment, 50+ Years Uninhabited, Volcanic Stone, Caldera Views (Known Location)
After the terrible earthquake of 1956, residents of Oia cast a black stone behind them, selling their properties — even for a tin of oil. Some sixty derelict houses, abandoned in the wake of the 1956 earthquake, were later repaired and converted into hotels and rented rooms. Once Oia was officially listed as a protected traditional community, restoration became possible. The cave houses that were never renovated — a small number surviving between the famous caldera-view hotels — retain their 1956-abandoned state: volcanic stone sealed, the Aegean below.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Greece →
3. Derelict Manolas Cave House – Thirassia Island, Santorini — Volcanic Pumice Stone Cave, Never Renovated, Sister Island to Santorini, Quietest Caldera View
On the neighbouring island of Thirassia — Santorini's little sister across the caldera — there are a few derelict cave houses in Manolas that enable visitors to see more clearly how they were made: a main living room looking back into the bedroom, carved from volcanic pumice stone. These caves were never renovated and remain in their original state. Thirassia is accessible by small boat from Ammoudi Bay (Oia) — the quietest caldera view in the Santorini archipelago. All GPS in our Greece Urbex Map.
4. Derelict Megalochori Mansion – Megalochori, Santorini — 1956 Earthquake Damage, 17th-Century Wine Merchant's Residence, Volcanic Stone, Vineyard Setting (On Our Map Only)
Megalochori — a village of wealthy 17th-century wine merchants and land barons — was hit hard by the 1956 earthquake; while much of the village was subsequently restored, several of the grand mansions with their high stone walls and solid wooden doors remain in states of significant dereliction. The specific combination of Cycladic wine merchant architecture, the earthquake history and the vineyard landscape of this unwashed, non-caldera village creates a dereliction experience entirely different from the famous cliff villages. GPS in our Greece Urbex Map.
5. Derelict Emporio Castle District – Emporio, Santorini — 15th-Century Venetian Kasteli, Medieval Alleyways, Abandoned Ottoman-Era Houses, Anti-Pirate Architecture (Hidden on Our Map)
Emporio — Santorini's largest village and its medieval commercial hub — built its houses immediately adjacent to form a defensive labyrinth against pirates, its narrow alleyways serving as a defensive system for the 15th-century kasteli. Several sections of the Ottoman-era housing within and adjacent to the kasteli remain in states of significant dereliction: volcanic stone construction sealed, medieval doorways collapsed, the anti-pirate alleyway system intact but uninhabited. Find them on our Greece Urbex Map. Find them on our Greece Urbex Map.
Safety Tips
- Pyrgos kastelli: earthquake-damaged and rubble-filled structures — never attempt to excavate or enter sealed cave house openings; the ground may be unstable
- Thirassia boat: check return boat times from Ammoudi Bay before crossing — the crossing is weather-dependent and the island has no regular ferry
- Seismic risk: Santorini is one of Europe's most seismically active islands — always check earthquake activity before visiting structures in the kastelli areas
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location
❓ FAQ
Are there abandoned places in Santorini?
Yes — the 1956 earthquake (7.8 magnitude) left dozens of cave houses sealed and abandoned across Pyrgos, Oia and other kastelli villages. While most were eventually converted to hotels, several remain in their abandoned state, particularly in the Pyrgos kastelli and on the sister island of Thirassia.
What happened to Santorini in 1956?
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated the island, destroying a large portion of its buildings and driving thousands to emigrate to the Greek mainland. Properties were sold for almost nothing — one account describes owners selling cave houses for a tin of oil. The earthquake ultimately enabled Santorini's transformation into a luxury destination as the abandoned properties were later renovated.
Can I visit Thirassia island?
Yes — small boats from Ammoudi Bay (below Oia) cross to Thirassia in approximately 20 minutes. No regular ferry; tours run daily in summer. The village of Manolas holds derelict cave houses in their original state and the quietest caldera views in the Santorini archipelago.
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