Santorini Island Greece

Santorini is one of the most fascinating islands in Greece. It is a rocky island right in front of a volcano, with black and red beaches, and its towns, overhanging the caldera and cliffs of the volcano, offer unique views and fantastic sunsets. The island of Santorini has a dramatic beauty that contrasts with the lush vegetation and greenery of the other islands. The volcano is still active and the last eruption occurred in 1950, causing an earthquake that destroyed many villages on the island. The island jealously guards its reputation as the possible location of the Lost City of Atlantis, the wondrous and mysterious island that Plato wrote about in 350 B.C. No one knows whether the city really existed before its sudden disappearance in a massive volcanic eruption, and certainly no trace of it has ever been found.

History

Santorini used to be a round island, but during an earthquake in the 15th century BC, it took the shape it has today. This is one of the reasons why many believe Santorini really was once Atlantis. The Minoan civilization was destroyed after this eruption, but apparently most people managed to escape.

Throughout history, the island has changed names. It was originally called Stroggili because of the shape of the island. When the Phoenicians came, they called it Kallistis, and over time it was named Thera after its first ruler Thera. Santorini was formed from lava during a volcanic eruption in 1660 BC. The central part of the volcano plunged into the sea, giving Santorini its present form along with the neighboring islands of Thirasia, Palea and Nea Kameni. The eastern slopes of the island are green and fertile even in October. This is due to the large vineyards that grow so well on the fertile volcanic soil. The mountain slopes, which gently diverge to the east, take advantage of all the available part of this fertile land.

Fira, the capital of Santorini

One of the most important cities on the island. It is located on the western side of the island. The permanent population of Fira is 1,600 people. It is located on the edge of an impressive cliff at a height of 260 meters, with a magnificent panoramic view of the underwater volcano. In 1956, Santorini was struck by an earthquake that destroyed most of the island, but fortunately some eighteenth-century buildings were saved. The town of Fira is a typical Cycladic village with charming white houses with blue windows and doors, separated from each other by small paved streets. Many of its beautiful buildings were built during the Venetian invasion, including churches with blue domes and sun-drenched verandas that offer incredible views of the sunset.

Historical Ancient City of Thera

Archaeology and history buffs will love discovering the ancient city of Thera. Visiting Santorini is sometimes like traveling back in time. Like an open-air museum, the ruins of Thera shine on the heights of Mesa Vouno hill. The sanctuary of Artemidoros overlooking the Aegean Sea welcomes visitors seeking knowledge. This place, rich in frescoes and columns, allows you to visit Santorini the way you want.

Location:
Ancient Thera, Santorini 847 00, Greece

City of Oia

Oia on the island of Santorini is the most famous settlement, known worldwide for its unique sunset, when the sun sinks into the blue sea behind the volcano…

It is built in the northernmost part of the caldera, at an altitude of about 120 meters and stretches from the west to the east coast, in this narrow part of the island, as the old core settlement now almost absorbed the surrounding small villages, Tolos, Phoenicia and the small settlement around the beach at Paradisos. Toward the sea from the caldera are Ammoudi and Armeni, two small harbors ideal for swimming. Oia is also called Ano or Ano Meria, precisely because it is the northernmost village with about 1,000 inhabitants. The locals of this town interact with every tourist with great pleasure, because they really enjoy introducing everyone to the history of the town and the country as a whole. 

Location:
Oia 847 02, Greece

Kamari beach

Kamari is the most famous, most picturesque and most popular beach among vacationers in Santorini. This is due to the small arch that can still be seen on the southern edge of the beach. According to legend, these are the remains of a sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon. The crowded coast with exotic black sand is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the picture. Kamari is located in the southeastern part of the island, about 8 km from the capital and only 3 km from the airport. It is the longest beach of all the developed beaches on the island. The coastline of 5 km long is very picturesque, as it is covered with black volcanic sand and fine black pebbles. Mesa Vouno beach, which protects Kamari from the winds and separates it from the neighboring Perissa beach, is located south of the beach. On most of the stretches of the beach there are large rocks and slabs of natural stone on the way down. You must be careful and wear slippers to avoid injuries. 

Location:
Kamari 847 00, Greece