Firáis the modern capital of theGreekAegeanisland ofSantorini. A traditional settlement,"Firá" derives its name from an alternative pronunciation of "Thíra", the ancient name of the island itself.
Fira is a city of white-washed houses built on the edge of the 400 metres (1,312 feet) highcalderaon the western edge of the semi-circular island of Thera. The two main museums of interest are theArchaeological Museum of Thera, 30 metres (98 feet) east of the cable car entrance, and theMuseum of Prehistoric Theraat the southeast corner of the White Orthodox Cathedral of Ypapanti, built on the site of an earlier church destroyed in the 1956 earthquake.
From Fira there is a panoramic view of the 18 kilometres (11 miles) longcalderafrom southern Cape Akrotiri to northern Cape Ag. Nikolaos, plus the volcanic islandNea Kameniat the center with Thirassia Island. Largecruise shipsanchor in the small harbor betweenNea Kameniand Fira.