The islands that make up the Santorini archipelago have a surface area of approximately 90 km² (34.74 mi sq).

There are over 300 churches and small chapels in this relatively small area. Such chapels were built in the olden days when most of the local population worked at sea and set out on long, often several-month cruises. At that time, the family usually built a chapel so that its patron would protect the loved one who was at sea.