Facts about Santorini

Together with four smaller islets (Tirasia, Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, Aspronisi), it forms a small archipelago called Santorini, located in the Cyclades.

Around 1600 BC, the island, which was probably named Strongili at that time, was sunk due to a strong volcanic eruption. The volcanic explosion was so violent that it resulted in one of the world's largest calderas with a diameter of 10 km (6,2 mi). Only side fragments of the previous island remained.

The caldera is a huge depression in the top part of the volcano, resulting from a violent eruption destroying the upper part of the volcanic cone.

Fira is a picturesque town on the bay, located on the caldera banks. It looks like it was carved out of a rock. It became the capital of the island in the 19th century.

Luckily most of the historic buildings have survived to this day. The city is the administrative center of Santorini.

Previously the island was called Kallisti, Strongili, Tera.

It was one of the oldest civilizations of the Bronze Age (Minoan, Cretan culture) in the Mediterranean. It began to rise around 3000 BC in Crete and peaked in the so-called period of younger palaces, around 1675-1450 BC.

The volcanic eruption caused significant damage to Crete, 110 km away, destroying Knossos Palace.

According to the hypothesis, the volcano ejected 60 km3 (14.39 cu mi) of magma from the crater.

After that period, Dorians (a Greek people speaking a Doric dialect) settled here.

Continuous observations of this area's geological activity have revealed that in 2011 the island rose about 5 cm (2 in).

The island has many beaches, mainly along the south and south-eastern coast.

Beaches also have different colors: white, red, and black. Usually, the name is derived from the color of sand or pebbles, but in the case of White Beach, the name comes from the white rocks above it, as the beach itself is made of black sand.

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.

Safety considerations regarding seismic activity dictate the construction of such shaped roofs. And under a dome, air circulation is better, which is important in a Mediterranean climate.

You can also use a donkey or a cable car. What suits you best.

It was an extremely developed Minoan city, which, like Pompeii in Italy, suffered greatly from the volcanic eruption.

Archaeological works are carried out here that reveal perfectly preserved 3-story houses built of stone blocks. Among ancient walls, the Minoan vases, furniture, inscriptions in Linear B writing, and frescoes depicting scenes from everyday life have been found. One of the most famous frescoes depicts two boys carrying fish.

It is a place with a perfect view of the panorama. From here, ancient soldiers were scouting for approaching enemy ships.

At first, it was used by the Greeks, then the Venetians who built a fortress of strategic importance on the Sykros Mountain. Around the defensive infrastructure, islanders built a settlement of about 200 houses. Until the eighteenth century, the settlement was the island's capital. The fortress and village were utterly destroyed during numerous earthquakes.

The name of the peak comes from the monastery built in 1712 at its peak. The monastery suffered a bit during the earthquake in 1956. However, it is still inhabited by the monks running the local museum.

The museum has a rich collection of icons and bibles in various editions. Some of them are rewritten by hand. The monks also produce wine, run a shoe workshop and make candles.

Renovated in 1663, it is notable for its carved wooden icon screen and its old, characteristic architecture. The church boasted a Holy Icon once, but it was stolen in 1983.

The town of Pyrgos is situated on a hill. There are ruins of an old Venetian castle built on the summit.

The city was inhabited in the 9th century BC. Archeologists discovered the Temple of Dionysus, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and Ancient Thera's cemetery there.

Here can find the church of St. Nicholas, patron of fishermen, and the famous windmill.

The picturesque view of Oia is captivating with marble roads, beautifully decorated houses, and a whole lot of other elements of architecture and landscape. Oia owes its beauty to the captains of ships who built their stately homes and led prosperous lives.

Vine bushes are low pruned and grown without supports in the dry volcanic-ash-rich soil.