Santorini Church of Panagia Sergena

Location: Vothonas

Carved literally out of the “entrails of the land of Thera”, as the author Kadio Kolymva has aptly written, the Church of Panagia Sergena is a chapel nestled in a gorge southeast of Vothonas village. Dating from the 1700s, it is one of the most remarkable religious monuments of Santorini, as it has been hewn inside a high volcanic rock.

Reaching a height of 20 meters, this singular chapel originally served as a lookout point and provided the locals with a safe refuge in case of pirate raids. The only thing that betrayed its existence was a tiny hardly-discernible window that looked like a hole (hence its alternative name, Panagia Tripa, as “tripa” means “hole” in Greek). Access was possible through a wooden ladder which was then pulled up, making it impossible for assailants to get in.

Today, a small whitewashed belfry has been erected at the foot of the big rock, and a flight of quaint steps has been chiseled out of the stone, facilitating access. The interior is decorated with icons, and the atmosphere is truly peaceful and reverential.

The Church of Panagia Sergena celebrates its feast day on February 2nd with a great panigiri.
To get there, visitors need to walk for about 5-10 minutes along a scenic trail that starts from the center of Vothonas, passing through drystone walls and volcanic rocks.