Enchanted Islands: About Santorini Greece

One of the most popular destinations in Greece is Santorini. Thousands of tourists visit Santorini every year. Santorini Greece is home to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.

Tourists traveling to Santorini Greece will discover:

• The famous submerged caldera
• The volcano’s crater that is situated today in the middle of a 32 square miles basin of water
• Around the basin, hanging on cliffs with heights of 150m to 300m, tourists can marvel at some of the most beautiful traditional villages of the Cyclades
• Lively colors of the white Cycladic houses and blue painted windows contrast beautifully against the black volcanic rocks rising from the sea
• The scenery in Santorini Greece keeps inspiring artists and visitors

Village names are:

• Fira
• Firostefani
• Immerovigli
• Oia

Santorini Island’s name is derived from ‘Santa Irini’ and officially called “Thera.”

Location of Santorini Greece:

• In the south of the Cycladic islands between Ios and Anafi, 130 nautical miles from Piraeus and 70 nautical miles from Crete

Size of the island:

• Covers an area of 96 km2
• Coastline of 69 kilometers
• Length reaches 18 km
• Population of about 6500-7000 during winter season and about 11,000 during summer season

In ancient times Santorini was circular in shape. This was the reason for the island being called “Strongili,” which means circular in Greek. The volcano ruptured and destroyed the center of the island, which caused it to sink and created today’s “caldera.”

The first volcano eruption occurred around 1500 BC. It is said this volcano eruption is responsible for the destruction of the great Minoan civilization of Crete. The last eruption occurred in 1956. The volcano remains active today.

Some people believe the destruction of Santorini could be related to the mythical Atlantis.

Additional historical facts about Santorini Greece:

• The island has a great number of archaeological sites that have proved the first human presence on the island dates back to the Neolithic Period.
• Santorini Island has had the same historical and cultural evolution as other islands of the Cyclades
• Near Akrotiri an important civilization to 3600 BC seems to have existed along the south portion of the island and next to the famous Red Beach
• It was proved Akrotiri was a Minoan city very much similar to those found in Crete
• Houses were of frescoes and pottery showing naturalistic landscapes or animals and humans
• Around 1300 BC, Phoenicians settled on the island and stayed there during five generations
• The island was colonized around 1115 BC by the Lacedaemonians
• Around 825 BC, the Phoenician alphabet was imported on the island and the Hellenic language was created
• A strategically important naval base was established during the Hellenistic Period
• The volcano exploded four times from 197 BC to 726 AC
• The islands came under Byzantine occupation between 1200 AC and 1579 AC, right before the Venetian rule
• Santorini Island was occupied by the Turkish from 1579 to 1821
• Greek Revolution and Independence occurred in 1821

Source: Santorini Greece Travel Guide

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