Facts about Santorini Santorini or Thira as it is otherwise named, is one of the most beautiful and unique in beauty islands of Greece and throughout the world. It is the most southern island of the Cyclades in the south of the Aegean sea. Intriguing history, awesome volcanic landscape, cosmopolitan atmosphere, breathtaking sunsets, deep blue sea, the volcano, are just some of the
reasons that make Santorini the most popular holiday destination in Greece!!
by islands of Ios, Folegandros and Sikinos.
Santorini has a metaphysical energy that becomes you as you sail into the Caldera rim and gaze up the steep cliffs. Fira, Oia, Imerovigli are just some of the villages that are built into the cliffs with magnificent view of the Aegean sea, the volcano and the near
The island has changed names through history. Originally it was called Stroggyli (“round”) since that was the shape of the island. When the Phoenicians came they named it Kallisti (“the very best”), and finally it got the name Thira after its first ruler.
The islands Santorini is the most extraordinary island in the Aegean. You sail into a strange, enclosed sea, shut off by the Burnt Islands. The volcanic cliffs of Santorini are red, brown or greenish, surmounted by a string of white villages. It is rather like a model of a monster’s jaw made by some infernal dentist; a sinister and alarming place, like nowhere else. Jetting out from the deep blue sea its volcanic sheer cliffs topped with gleaming white village homes and churches, resemble snowcapped mountains. The thunderous fury of
nature left its mark on the island, the home of Greece’s last active volcano which still smolders today. Layer upon layer of red volcanic rock interspersed with white buildings and specks of greenery form a visual demonstration found nowhere else. The entire center of the circular island sank into the sea during the tremendous volcanic explosion of 3.500 years ago. The eruption caused tidal waves which virtually wiped out the advanced Minoan civilization of Crete 70 miles to the south. Some scholars
believe that the island is part of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis which supposedly slipped underwater during the disaster. What remains today of Santorini is a large crescent-shaped island enclosing a vast bay, the largest caldera on earth (7X14 miles). There are also four much smaller islands around the main large one which are called Thirassia, Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni and Aspronisi. The island has changed names through history.
Santorini’s history Santorini and the Cyclades in general are connected to the ports of Piraeus and Rafina. In addition, there are ferry connection from Santorini ferry to the islands of Crete, Rhodes, and basically all Dodecanese and East Aegean Islands via a third island. Your trip to Santorini can be with a conventionA member of the Cyclades group of al ferry boat, by Highspeed or Flying Aegean islands, Santorini has a per- dolphin depending on the day, the manent population of approxiimately time and the ferry company you wish 10.500 but during the tourist season to travel with. this number swells dramatically. SanIf you select to visit Santorini with the torini has 13 villages. conventional ferry your trip will take Fira, also known as Thira or Hora, is about 5 hours while with a Highspeed The sunsets of Santorini with the Burnt the island’s capital. It is situated 27,5 ferry 5.5 hours depending on how Islands in the foreground, the islet of m. above the sea and may be reached many ports the ferry will call at on the Thirassia behind, Sikinos and Fole- from the port of Skala climbing the way. gandros farther off, and the great rock steep, 566 broad steps.This should of Christiana, are among the most only be attempted by the untiring while exciting aesthetic experiences that the the traditional way up the zigzag path Aegean can provide. The official name is by renting pack mules or donkeys. of the island is Thira, but foreigners re- For those who prefer modern convenifer to it by the name given in honor of ences, a funicular lift is available. The the island’s patron saint, St. Irene of cable car lifts 800 persons per hour. Thessaloniki, who died here while in The duration is only two minutes and exile in 304 A.D. offers unforgettable views of the volcanic island. Santorini, which covers 73 square kilometers and is located 127 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus, has an important wine trade. In September visitors may tread the grapes and taste the wines. From the sheer cliff-top, where the villages are built, you look down on the gentle, green outer slopes of the mountain: the sea has filled the crater of the volcano. The contrast between these two faces of Santorini is dramatic and extraordinary. The beauty of Santorini must depend on light and line; there is hardly any vegetation apart from vines, and the volcanic earth has no charm of color, unlike the earth and rock of the limestone islands. Yet it has a strange and uncanny fascination of its own. It has rightly been called the black pearl of the Aegean.
The rich volcanic soil also produces popular small sweet tomatoes. The island also exports pumice stone, china clay and pistacchio nuts. Two million tons of volcanic soil is exported every year for use in the cement industry.
Santorini has a great history, starting from the Bronze Age. The large excavation at Akrotiri, has verified that there was a great civilization on the island. The excavations which started in 1956 brought to light an ancient city very well preserved, which was entirely buried beneath avery thick layer of ash from the great eruption in 1625 as the latest studies have shown. Herodotus, who speaks about the early history of Santorini, tells us that the island was initially called Strongyle, the Round One, from its shape, later Kallisti, the Fairest One, because of its beauty, and after the Lacedaemonians’ arrival and the foundation of their colony, they gave the island the name of their king, Thera.
Myths & The name Santorini was given by the Crusaders after a small chapel of Agia Irene (Santa Irene).
The last huge eruption
of the volcano was 3.600 years ago, in the late bronze age. Millions cubic meters of ash and pumice were blown to a height of up to 36 km above the island. The removal of such a large volume of magma caused the volcano to collapse, producing a caldera. Ash fell over a large area in the eastern Mediterranean and Turkey. This ash buried the ancient city at Akrotiri and is feeding the myth of lost Atlantis. The most recent
legends eruption at Santorini was in 1950 on Nea Kameni, the northern island.
There is a story thousands of years old about a “lost island� in the Atlantic Ocean. The story was told by the ancient Greeks, and had been handed down from father to son for many generations before the Greek philosopher Plato wrote a famous story about it, about 375 BC. The island of Atlantis, according to Plato, was really a series of islands. Imagine in the center a hill, surrounded by a ring of water; the ring of
water surrounded by a circle of land, until there were nine rings of water and nine of land. The islands had been created by Neptune, god of the sea, for Cleito, his beloved. The city was built of black and red stone; the roofs of the houses were of red copper and flashed in the sun; and there were two beautiful temples, one surrounded by a golden wall and the other with silver walls, golden pinnacles, and a roof of ivory.In 1967, a city buried by a volcanic eruption in 1500 BC., was found on Santorini. Archaeologists say this might be Atlantis. Atlantis.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera houses finds from the excavations at Akrotiri, conducted under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens, the earlier excavations at Potamos, made by members of the German Archaeological Institute at Athens, and rescue excavations at various other sites on the island, carried out by the 21st Ephorate of Antiquities for the Cyclades and Samos, as well as objects discovered fortuitously or handed over.
the heyday of the city at Akrotiri.In the last unit, in particular, virous aspects are presented, such as the plan and architecture of the city and its organization as an urban centre, the emergent bureaucratic system, the development of the monumental art of wall-painting, the rich and diverse pottery repertoire, the elegant jewellery, the reciprocal influences between vase-painting and wall-painting, and the city’s and the island’s complex network of contacts with the outside word.
Public Works in order to replace the old museum (built in 1902), which had collapsed during the earthquakes of 1956.
Maritime museum in Oia village is where you will find all kinds of displays featuring marine objects which trace the history of the island, especially during the 19th century. Megaron Gyzi is the cultural center of the island is located in a beautiful old mansion called Megaron Gyzi. The exhibitions give a cultural account of the island’s history as well as marvel at the The exhibition is structured in four The exhibits have fossils of plants that unique 17th century architecture of the units, referring to the history of re- grew before the human habitation of mansion with its dome-shaped rooms search at Thera, the geology of Thera, Thera and archaeological objects. and pebble stone yards. Old photothe island’s history from the Late Ne- Archeaological Museum of Thera graphs show how Santorini looked olithic to the Late CycladiI period and was built in 1960 by the Ministry of before the devastating earthquake.
Things to see and do on the island
Religion The Monastery of Profitis Elias is high atop the Profitis Elias peak, in Pyrgos village and is the monastery with the same name. The museum of the Monastery, contains all types of ecclesiastic items, Byzantine documents, sacred vestments of archbishops and bishops. It also hosts displays on shoemaking, printing, candle making and wine making. Agios Nikolaos Marmarites is to the left of the road from Megalochori to Emboreion stands a rectangular temple. The monument dates from the 3rd century BC. Today it is used as a chapel consecrated to Saint Nicholas. (Saint Nicholas is the Saint who
protects seamen). The Church of Panagia Episkopi is located in the village of Mesa Gonia is the beautiful church of Panagia Episkopi. Built in the end of 11th century by the empire of Byzantium Alexios Comninos. Some of the Byzantine paintings and hagiography can be seen even today as well as the marble temple of the church. Everyone has read about the spectacular sunsets that occur on this island and the sceptic may question whether the setting sun can really appear differently here than from the neighbouring islands of Naxos or Ios. Nevertheless, the sunsets at Santorini, really are breathtakingly beautiful when seen
as a backdrop to the volcano. The eastern slopes of the island are green and fertile, even in October. This is due to the copious vineyards that grow so well in the fertile volcanic soil. The island has changed names through history. Originally it was called Stroggyli (“round”) as it was the shape of the island. When the Phoenicians came they named it Kallisti (“the very best”), and finally it got the name Thira after its first ruler. Theras was the son of the Theban hero Autesion who was a descendant of Cadmus. He was the king of Sparta and responsible for his twin nephews Procles and Eurysthenes.
Agriculture The locals live mainly off agriculture and tourism. The islands largest export product is soil; 2.000.000 tons a year are used all over the world, mainly to make concrete. The Suez channel was built with this concrete for example. Most holidaymakers stay where the beaches are, Kamari and Perissa, but these places really do not represent the island’s amazing distinctiveness. If you can, you should try to stay in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia, the towns on the cliffs, which are very beautiful and full of little cafes, shops and places of interest. There is a bus that goes to the beaches everyday, and it is much better to be in the towns in the evening and on the beaches during the day.Approaching the island by boat the immediate impression obtained is this is a Greek island unlike any other. The island of Santorini was formed out of the lava from the volcanic eruption in 1660 BC. The central part of the volcano sank into the sea leading to the emergence of Santorini itself and the neighbouring islands of Thirasia, Palaia and Nea Kameni.
Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the Caldera and from a distance appear like snow capping the towering mountain tops. The coloured strata of the volcanic rock of these cliffs are spectacular in themselves: chocolate brown, rust red, yellow ochre, white and cream. The geological uniqueness however is not the only thing that makes Santorini a special holiday destination.
in October. This is due to the copious vineyards that grow so well in the fertile volcanic soil. The terraced slopes of the mountains use every available part of this fertile land. The island suffer from water scarcity, because it has few natural water reserves, but the nature of the dry soil of Santorini produces grapes that make up one of the best wines of Greece.
The climate, though damp is healthy and perfect for producing the famous wine (vinsando), fava beans and tomatoes. There are many wineries and a a Everyone has read about the spectac- local factory for canning tomato paste, ular sunsets that occur on this island tomatoes and vegetables. Santorini and the sceptic may question whether used to export a lot of pumice that the setting sun can really appear differ- finally stopped due to the destruction ently here than from the neighbouring the old pumice mines did to the island. islands of Naxos or Ios. Nevertheless, the sunsets at Santorini, really are Today the island’s economy relies on breathtakingly beautiful when seen as tourism, where tens of thousands toura backdrop to the volcano. The colours ists from Greece and around the world that streak the sky change from lilac to visit the island for unforgettable holdeep purple, from yellow to orange to idays. History Santorini used to be a red, as the golden sun sinks and be- round island, but during an earthquake comes blood red reflecting its light on and volcano-outbreak in the 15th cento the sea which is an amazing scene tury BC the middle of the island sunk for photography. The eastern slopes of and gave it the shape it has the island are green and fertile, even today.