The world famous island of Santorini is the southern most island of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea, and is located 63 nautical miles north of Crete.
Its surface area is 73 sq. km. and its population, distributed among thirteen villages, just exceeds thirteen thousand six hundred souls, according to the census of 2001.
The present-day crescent shape of the island is a consequence of the activity of the volcano in prehistoric times. The island itself owes its very existence to the volcano.
The last huge eruption of the volcano dates back 3,600 years, in the late bronze age. Thirty million cubic meters of magma in the form of pumice and ash were blown to a height of up to 36 kilometres above the island. Pumice deposits, dozens of meters thick, buried one of the most prosperous pre-historic settlements of that period, feeding the myth of lost Atlantis.
The mild activity of the volcano after this major eruption continues into the present (the most recent eruption occurred in 1950) building up two small islands within the caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni. These islands represent the volcano's most recent activity.
The marvelous dry climate and unbroken sunshine create year around conditions which are perfect for observation, photographs and videos under an extraordinary variety of natural lights and colours and give the visitor the exceptional advantage of reaching the interior of the volcano by boat.
HISTORY
Even though some scholars have considered certain sherds from vases as being Neolithic, it remains a fact that not a single certain sign has been observed so far which confirms human presence on the island prior to the Bronze Age. The earliest pottery found in the deepest levels of the quarries does not seem to be older than the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C., that is belonging to the second phase of the Early Cycladic civilization [c. 3200 - 2000 B.C.].
The large excavation at Akrotiri has verified that in the next period, the Middle Cycladic [2000 - 1550 B.C.] man's activity on the island did not cease. Perhaps, however, as seems to be the case in other Cycladic islands as well, the population was gathered into small conurbations rather than dispersed in small communities. From the Late Bronze Age only the first phase has remained but this in its great acme. The eruption of the volcano in around 1500 B.C. entirely buried the island beneath a very thick layer of pozzuolona. Naturally, all traces of human activity vanished from the island for several centuries. Fragments of Mycenaean vases located superficially in the region of Monolithos attest the resettlement of the island at least by the end of the 13th century B.C.
Herodotus, who speaks about the early history of Santorini, tells us that the island was initially called Strongyle, the Round One, from its shape. Later, because of its beauty, it was called Kalliste, the Fairest One. To Kalliste, the historian says, came the Phoenicians led by Kadmos and there they settled. This took place five generations before the Trojan War. After the Phoenicians, who ruled the island for eight generations, the Lacedaemonians arrived. These latter founded a colony and gave the island the name of their leader, Theras, son of Autesion. In the 9th century B.C. Thera, a pure Dorian colony, became one of the "stepping-stones" on the bridge linking the East with the West. Cyprus, Crete, Melos, the south-east shores of Mainland Greece were the other halting points on this communication route.
Towards the end of the 9th or beginning of the 8th century B.C. Thera, Crete and Melos were the first to adopt the Phoenician alphabet for writing the Greek language. Despite this the Therans, true children of conservative Sparta, did not follow the other Cycladic islanders in their cultural development even though they accepted some influences from the surrounding islands. We know very little about the life of the Therans during these years [Geometric period]. We have more information concerning their attitude to the dead. The prevailing custom was cremation of the dead and conservation of the ashes in special vases.
In the Archaic period [7th and 6th c. B.C.] Thera was in contact with [p. 12] Crete, first of all, then Paros, and later with Attica, Corinth, Rhodes and Ionia. These relations, however, remained superficial and did not manage to definitively influence the structure of the conservative society of the Therans nor alter the cultural life of the island. The Therans were frugal in their diet, sufficing on what the soil offered and avoiding marine involvements. The sole exception was the founding of Cyrene, the only Theran colony. But they were forced into this venture by dire necessity, as Herodotus informs us. The island was plaqued by a drought which lasted for seven years. The more daring, following the pronouncement of the oracle and after many adventures, reached the north coast of the African continent where they founded Cyrene in about 630 B.C.
From as early as the 6th century B.C. Thera minted its own coinage. The official emblem of the island [insignium] was two dolphins. As the consequence of the meagre diet and relative isolation, Thera did not play an important role in Hellenic events during the Classical period in Greece [5th and 4th century B.C.]. In the years of the Persian Wars Thera discontinued minting coinage. It did not begin again until the end of Athens' hegemony in the Aegean, that is in the middle of the 4th century B.C. During the Peloponesian War, as was to be expected, Thera sided with Sparta. In Hellenistic times the island's strategic position was especially esteemed by the Ptolemies. The natural fortification of Mesa Vouno and the two sandy beaches on either side of it, suitable for anchorage, made Thera a precious naval and military base from which the warring campaigns of the Successors of Alexander the Great were launched in the Aegean.
Within the immense inland sea of the Roman Empire, the Mediterranean, Thera was nothing more than an insignificant little island. Christianity, however, reached here early and there was evidently an organized church by the 4th century A.D. as is attested by the "Bishopric of Thera" with a certain Dioskouros [343 - 344] as first incumbent. From the period of the Emperor Justinian until 1207, when it was abolished, the Bishopric of Thera was one of those subject to the Metropolitan throne of Rhodes and is mentioned fifth in order.
The island was, apparently, of neither political nor military significance in Byzantine times. It is, however, noteworthy that the Emperor Alexius I Comnenus [108-1118] founded the church of Panagia Episkopi at Gonia, perhaps as the Katholikon of some monastery.
After the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders of the Fourth Crusade [1204] and the creation of the Latin Empire of the Bosporus, the Doge of Venice, Dandolo, ceded the islands to his nephew Marco Sanudo. Thus was founded the Duchy of Naxos or the Archipelago. Thera became the seat of one of the four Catholic Bishops of the Duchy and together with Therasia was ceded as a Barony to Giacomo Barozzi. Up until 1296 the island was administered by five generations of Barozzi who were accustomed to using the pompous title Dominatores insularum Santorini et Therasiae [Lords of the islands of Santorini and Therasia]. The name Santorini was given at that time by the Crusaders after a small chapel of Agia Irini [Santa Irene] which [p. 13] some say was at Perissa and others say was at Riva on Therasia.
In the years of Frankish rule [1207 - 1579] Santorini followed the fate and history of the other islands of the Duchy of Naxos. Important events in the history during these years are:
1. The expulsion of the Barozzi [1335] and the annexing of the Barony directly to the Duchy of Naxos. Under the hegemony of the Sanudi the island experienced a great floruit with the development of cotton cultivation.
2. The period of the reign of Duke Giacomo of the Crispi dynasty [1397 - 1418] which succeeded the Sanudi on Naxos. Giacomo studied the volcano and conducted experiments in its crater.
3. The ceding of Santorini to the Duke of Crete, Domenico Pisani. It was given as a dowry to the daughter of the Duke of Naxos Giacomo III [1480]. At that time a new Catholic Bishop was appointed under the protection of Venice and agriculture was supplemented by the special development of cotton cultivation and viticulture.
4. The annexing of the island along with the rest of the Duchy to Venice [1487].
Throughout the interval of Frankish rule the islands suffered as much from piratical raids as from the rivalries between the local Latin rulers or between the Dukes and the Sultan. In this same period the coexistence of the two Christian communities --the Catholic and the Orthodox --on the island frequently led to friction between them which was probably motivated by the religious leadership of the two communities.
The Turkish dominion [1579 - 1821] resulted in the abolition of piracy and the development of conveyancing trade. Santorinians created close contacts with the great harbours of the Eastern Mediterranean [Alexandria, Constantinople, Odessa] where they founded important communities. Their economic independence resulting from these activities is reflected in the old bourgeois mansions which still survive in the villages of Santorini.
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WEATHER CONDITIONS
The climate in Santorini is typical of the Mediterranean climate: generally extended periods of sunshine throughout most of the year, relatively warm and dry summers and mild and rainy winters.
The year can be broadly subdivided into two main seasons: the warm and dry season lasting from April until October and the cold and rainy season lasting from November until the end of March. Long periods of consecutive rainy days are not common in Santorini, even during the winter, and the sky does not remain cloudy for more than a few days in a row, as it does in other regions of the world.
During the warm and dry season the weather is usually stable, the sky is clear, the sun is bright and there is generally no rainfall. A sweater/jacket is advised, especially in April and October, as evenings often bring cooler temperatures.
Average Temperatures (Celsious/Fahrenheit)
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
12/53 |
13/55 |
12/53 |
17/62 |
19/66 |
25/77 |
July |
August |
September |
October |
November |
December |
27/80 |
27/80 |
24/75 |
21/69 |
17/62 |
13/55 |
CURRENCY
The Euro (EUR), from the 1st of January 2002, is the official currency of Greece.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220 volts, 50cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using step down transformers of 220/110 volts connected to each outlet.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Two great civilizations have left their mark on Santorini. The one belongs to prehistoric times and is that which is coming to light in the excavations at Akrotiri. The other is the Greek civilization and is represented by the ancient city located on Mesa Vouno.
PREHISTORIC THERA: AKROTIRI
The ancient city at Akrotiri is not merely the most important archaeological site on the island, it is also, thanks to its excellent state of preservation and the wealth of finds it has yielded, the most important prehistoric settlement found anywhere in the Eastern Mediterranean. Akrotiri could be called the prehistoric Pompeii of the Aegean.
ANCIENT THERA: MESA VOUNO
The strategic qualifications of the site attracted the attention of the Lacedaemonian colonisers of the island who founded their city upon the limestone rock of Mesa Vouno. From the 9th century B.C. until the spread of Christianity, the city of Mesa Vouno was the only urban center of the island.
MUSEUMS
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera, located in the island's capital Fira, is not an ordinary provincial museum. Its special contents, masterpieces of art in the prehistoric Aegean, such as the famous wall-paintings and the unique gold ibex figurine, place it on a par with the Acropolis Museum of Classical Greece (Parthenon sculptures) and the Vergina Museum of Northern Greece.
The Wall Paintings of Thera Exhibition
Three-dimensional life-size reproductions of the wall paintings, which found in Akrotiri - Petros M. Nomikos Conference Centre, Firostefani.
The Archaeological Museum
In Fira, the island's capital, stands the Archeological Museum in which are housed finds representing the island's long history. The Museum contains collections of sculpture (ranging from the Archaic to the Roman period), inscriptions (ranging from the Archaic to the Roman period) and vases and clay figurines (dating from the Geometric to the Hellenistic periods).
The Folklore Museum
Located in Kontohori, Fira, in a cave house built in 1861. The museum displays workshops of carpenters, barrel makers, shoe makers and tinsmiths as well as an original old winery, a gallery with works of local current artists and document archives.
The Megaron Gyzi
This beautiful old mansion-museum, located in Fira, exhibits engravings of the 16th through the 19th centuries with dresses, views and maps of the Cycladic islands as well as old manuscripts and old photographs of how Santorini looked before the devastating earthquake of 1956 and paintings of well-known Greek artists who worked on the island.
The Naval Museum
Located in Ia, the Naval Museum houses all kinds of displays featuring marine objects which trace the maritime history of the island, especially during the 19th century.
The Wine Museum
A wine museum, presenting the history of wine in Santorini from 1660 to 1950 with mobile and immobile figures and sound effects. It is located at the premises of the winery "Volcan Wines" of Koutsogiannopoulos family on the way to Kamari beach.
CHURCHES
As is the case throughout the Cyclades, Santorini is abundant with more than 250 churches of all shapes and sizes. The ecclesiastical architecture of Santorini is notable for its delicacy and plasticity. Both features stem from the free creative imagination of the local folk craftsmen.
THE ISLANDS NEA KAMENI AND PALEA KAMENI:
The youngest land in the Eastern Mediterranean
The two small islands in the center of the Santorini caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni, " the volcano " to the local people, are the youngest volcanic lands in the Eastern Mediterranean. Palea Kameni (Old Burnt Island) is less than 2000 years old, while Nea Kameni (Young Burnt Island) began to form only 425 years ago and its youngest lavas are less than 50 years old. These two islands represent the volcano's most recent activity.
Beaches
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.
We continue to 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 one will 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.
