St. John the Baptist Cathedral

In front of you stands the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, one of Fira’s most distinctive religious landmarks. On an island famous for its whitewashed Orthodox churches with blue domes, this Catholic cathedral immediately stands out with its Italian-inspired Baroque style, its ornate bell tower, its large central dome, and its soft shades of grey, beige, and cream that contrast with the surrounding Cycladic architecture.

Its story goes back to the 17th century, when the Jesuits built the first church on this site. The current building, completed in 1823, was badly damaged in the 1956 earthquake but carefully restored and reopened in 1975. During those years, the Church of the Immaculate Conception served as a temporary cathedral for the island’s small Catholic community. Step inside and you’ll find a calm, reflective atmosphere. This is the spiritual home of Santorini’s Catholic community, which today numbers only about five hundred people.

Every Sunday, Mass is celebrated here in several languages, a welcoming gesture that reflects the island’s cosmopolitan spirit. The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is more than a place of worship—it’s a symbol of Santorini’s religious and cultural diversity. Look up at its bell tower and dome, and you’ll glimpse another side of Fira, where Greek and Latin influences meet, and where the traditions of Christianity continue to coexist at the heart of the Cyclades.