santorini

Santorini offers one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. The villages are situated on cliffs and offer breathtaking view over the submerged volcano. Santorini`s volcano will be found on the two small islands of Palea and Nea Kameni where it can be seeing sulfur steam and frozen lava formations. The hot springs of Palea Kameni are a Must seing! The island also has impressive beaches with the sand of your choice: black, white or red.

Throughout the island, you will find Cycladic houses with blue painted windows fighting against black volcanic rocks rising from the sea. The main villages are Fira, Firostefani, Immerovigli and Oia.

The capital of the island is Fira; perched on the edge of a 260 meters cliff, it offers a fantastic panorama on the volcano. The streets are filled with all kinds of shops, especially those selling jewelry and souvenirs and plenty of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Here is where you will also find the much-photographed blue dome and white bell tower of Agiou Mina.

Firostefani is an extension of Fira and is one of the most picturesque and peaceful of the villages, with the best view on the island. It is mostly constituted of hotels, traditional houses, villas, studios and rooms.

Immerovigli is situated on the lip of a cliff. It is the higher of the villages. Its name comes from the word "vigla" which means day. Here, you can enjoy the sunset behind Skaros, an enormous rock jutting into the sea. You can even walk to the top of Skaros, which offers a fantastic view of the cliffs.

Oia is world famous for its quite life and is obviously the most beautiful of the villages, as it literally hangs from the cliffs. Many of the buildings are actually built into niches in the rock. There are also plenty of tourist shops and galleries for your shopping pleasure. Interestingly, there is a set of 300 steps leading down from Oia to the port of Ammoudi and the beach of Armenis. There, you will find some nice taverns and floating pumice stones.

Santorini Island is also famous for its lively nightlife. Fira, Oia, Perisa and Kamari offer numerous cafe bars or clubs are situated along the Caldera (the cliff). Oia is more subdued than the rest as it is world renowned for catering to newlyweds and therefore is full of romantic cafes and bars, which boast of breathtaking views.

For those who love to visit museums, there are the archaeological, naval and folklore museums and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. Not to be missed are the Megaron Gyzi and the Bellonio Cultural Centre and Library. There are more than 250 churches of all shapes and sizes to see as well. Included among them are Panagia Episkopi, the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, the Prophet Elias Monastery, the Catholic Cathedral, the Dominican Convert and the Agios Nikolaos Monastery.

The wineries of Santorini produce exceptional wines from the island's famed vineyards. Wine tasting is available in six different wineries.

Perissa, Kamari, Monolithos and the Red Beach are the main beaches. For privacy there are Cape Columbo, Paradise and Vourvoulou. On Perissa you will find an endless black sandy beach with an enormous rock called Mesa Vouno rising from sea. Kamari is one of the more touristy beaches. You will find all kinds of water sports activities here. Monolithos is one of the less crowded of the beaches. Red Beach is unique, as it is composed of black and red sand.

Santorini can become your choice for making your ultimate honeymoon destination. the breathtaking views wait to be part of your dream vacation, where beautiful memories will indelibly remain with you always.

Santorini's famous beaches are spread out mainly along the eastern and the south-eastern side of the island.
 
Each beach has special characteristics, which make it unique and outstanding. The black shining pebbles, the unique land formations, the black, white and red sand, make up an unforgettable scenery. Most beaches are well organized offering the choice of lounging chairs, umbrellas, and various water sports.
 
Starting from the northern part of the island, the beaches on the coastline of Oia will instantly amaze, they have a wild and remote beauty. These beaches were frequented by locals, however recently they have been discovered by few tourists, mainly by families and couples, they can easily be passed by since they cannot be seen from the main road. Coming from Oia, one will first come upon the beach of Baxedes, then follows the beach of Koloumbos and lastly we come upon Pori a small fisherman's port.
 
In the south-eastern part of the island one will find the beaches of Monolithos, Avis and Kamari. Organized beaches mainly preferred by families with small children. Numerous hotels, restaurants, tavernas and small shops are located along the beaches, especially in Kamari. Water sports are offered at the beach of Avis, which attracts younger people.
 
The beach of Perissa and Perivolos two of the most famous beaches of Santorini. These two beaches together form the longest black-sanded beach on the island. Here you can find also a variety of tavernas and restaurants as well as hotels.
 
Finally one reaches the most southern beaches of the island. Vlychada with its beautiful carved mountain, the "moonscape" landscape, sculptured by the wind through the years.  The Red beach with its unique vertical cliffs, the White beach, which can be reached only by boat, and the unspoilt beach of Mesa Pigadia form the epilogue of an unrevealing landscape, which has been transformed through the ages.

History:

Mythology: The myth of Deucalion and Pyra, who were saved from the deluge, which was caused by Zeus to punish the mortals, is closely connected with the eruption in Santorini. This myth is chronologically placed in 1530 and 1400 BC. Another myth about a flood is the angry reaction of Poseidon, who flooded Attica when Athena beat him in their rivalry about the domination of Athens. The death of Hippolytus was caused by a huge wave, raised by Poseidon near Troizina.

The years before the Eruption 
  
The existing archeological findings on Akrotiri, clearly demonstrate that before the eruption, there was a developed and propably oligarchic life on the island which confirm the human presence above the island before the Bronze Age. So far no human body has been found killed by the eruption but there is a strong believe that had been warned in time to evacuate the island.

The big excavation of Akrotiri certifies that and in the next period, Middle-Cycladic (2000-1550 BC.) the human activity above in the island did not also stop:
the Middle and early Late Bronze Age (ca. 20th-17th centuries B.C.) it was extended and gradually developed into one of the main urban centres and ports of the Aegean. The large extent of the settlement (ca. 20 hectares), the elaborate drainage system, the sophisticated multi-storeyed buildings with the magnificent wall-paintings, furniture and vessels, show its great development and prosperity.

The various imported objects found in the buildings indicate the wide network of its external relations. Akrotiri was in contact with Crete but also communicated with the Greek Mainland, the Dodecanese, Cyprus, Syria and Egypt.

The years after the Eruption 
  
Lava was created!!. The most terrifying known explosion of volcano in the world takes place more or less during the 2nd BC millenium and plunge deep into an entire island with the culture and the values of its people.

Reports that we have from Herodotus in the precocious history, this island has been called Stronghyle (the Round One) because of its circular shape.  Around 1300BC, Phoenicians settled for five generations and Kadmos was their leader. Later on, the island was colonised  by Lacedaemonian and created a colony. Their leader was Thiras, Aftesionas' son and for that reason they name the island Thira.

On 9th century BC Thira, becomes - with Cyprus, Crete, Milos and the rest of south-eastern coasts of continental Greece - one of the stations of bridge that link the East with the West. In the end of the 7th and at the beginning of the 8th century BC, in Fira, Crete and Milos the Phoenician alphabet was imported and the Hellenic language was created.

The ancient Thira 
  
During the archaic season (7th and 6th centuries BC) Fira is being linked with Crete and Paros initially, later with Attica, Corinthus, Rhodes and Ionia. This relation, however remain surface, without be able to influence effectively the structure of conservative society of residents and alter the cultural life of the island. Frugal as they are, stays satisfy with what they get from the fertile ground of their island and they avoid the marine "adventures".

From the 6th century BC Fira creates her own currency. Two dolphins were the official emblem of the island (decoration). In the years of the Persian Wars the mint of Fira closed and open again when the  Athenian hegemony in the Aegean ended, around that is to say in the means of 4th century BC. During the Peloponnesian War, as it was logical, Fira supported Sparta. In the Hellenistic years the strategic place of the island in the Aegean was in appreciated particularly by the Ptolemy. The natural fortification of Mesa Vouno (In Mountain) and its framework by two sandy beaches, suitable for anchorage, made Fira precious naval and military base for the martial enterprises of Successors in the Aegean

Roman & Byzantine Empire 
  
In in the enormous "lake" of Roman Empire, the Mediterranean, Thira is nothing more than an insignificant island. The Christianity however reached early and it appears that, from the fourth century, existed already as an organised church. Is also testified as "Thira's Bishopric" with the first bishop named Dioskouros. From the period of Ioustinianos until 1207, when it was also suppressed, the Thira's Bishopric was one of the depended in the Metropolitan throne of Rhodes bishoprics and are always reported fifth in the line.
Neither political or military importance appears that it had in the Byzantine years. It is however remarkable that Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118) founded the temple of Virgin Mary of Bishopric in Gonia, perhaps as catholic some monastery.
From the years still Byzantines, the most terrible plague of Aegean islands were the every nation, race and language pirates, who undisturbed occupied the coastline imposing taxes and took whatever they wanted. Because of this and in order to rescue their lives, but also in order to safeguard minimal existing their from the invaders, people on the island had encompassed their villages in fortified "Castelia" (Castles), to which they resorted even the serfs when the sentinels gave the signal of alarm from the utmost sides of the island. In the island of Santorini, are reported - from the years of Frankish - five castles. The castle of Skaros was the most important, not only because of its location and equipment, but also because in this had been installed and resided the Fragoi souvereigns of island, with their Despot. Skaros, was built under the Imerovigli village, in the rough cliffs of "Theoskepasti". Today are rescued minimal ruins, because from 1700, residents abandoned Skaros and moved to Fira.

Second was the Casteli of Apanomerias (Above Side - Oia), that was named also "the Castle of Saint Nikolaos". Third was at Pirgos village, fourth, in Emporio village and fifth was the Casteli in Akrotiri, which it's named also as Pountas Casteli.

The last four Castles were built in the homonym villages of the island and before the earthquake of 1956, they were all in good condition. Outside from the each Castle and exactly in the front side of his gate, it was (and it is still) a church which all of them are dedicated in the name of Saint Theodosia. Even in the castle of Skarou, which the most residents there were Catholics, existed at the front of the gate a church in memory of Saint Theodosia. It's worthwhile to mention Saint Theodosia is celebrated on 29 May and that the same season where her martyrdom was taken place in the Byzantium, the 726 AC, became also the terrible explosion of volcano, that created Palaia Kameni (Old Burned).

The early years 
  
After the fallen of Istamboul from the Crusaders of Fourth Crusade (1204) and the creation of Latin Empire of Bosporus, the Dandolos granted the islands in his nephew, Mark Sanoudo. In this way, the Duchy of Naxos or Archipelago had been established. Thira became the seat for one of the four Latin bishoprics of Duchy and, with Thirassia, was granted as barony to Iakov Varotsi. Until 1296 the island was managed by five generations of Varotsi family, which they made use of the pompous title "Despotai of islands Santorini and Thirassia".
 

St. Irene

Thira tooks the name "Santorini" from a small church of Saint Irene (Santa Irini). There is a believes that the name came from the church in Perissa or from others that came from a church in Rivas of Thirassia.
In the years of Frankish rule (1207 - 1579), Santorini followed the fate and the history of remainder islands of Duchy of Naxos. At this years was expelled the family Varotsi (1335) and the Barony was blamed in the Duchy. Under the hegemony of Sanoudes, the island knew big bloom with the growth of the cotton cultivation. During the period of power of Duke Jacob of Krispon dynasty (1397 - 1418) Jacob studied particularly the volcano while the later concession of Santorini in the Duke of Crete Dominico Pisani, brought new latin bishop under the protection of Venice and was thus strengthened the agriculture with particular growth of culture of cotton and viticulture.

Follows finally, the annexation of island, with the remainder Duchy, in Venice (1487).

In entire the duration of Frankish rule, the islands suffered so much from the piratical raids, what from the competitions aamong the local latin dynaties or between the Duke and the Sultan. The same period, the coexistence of two christian communities of - catholic and orthodoxe - above in the island, often created their frictions between them, instigated by the religious leadership of both communities.

Turkish conquest (1579 - 1821) contributed in the repression of piracy and in the growth of trade. The traders created narrow relations with the big harbours (Alexandria, Istamboul, Odessa) the Eastern Mediterranean, where they founded also important colonies. Their economic independence from these activities is now visible in old mansions that are saved still in the villages of Santorini.