Overview

Disregarding the threat of the volcano, Santorini proudly spreads her beauty over the wild rock and the last remaining piece of the lost world of Atlantis. The island of Santorini was created eighty thousand years ago when the first volcanic eruption created Stroggili. The island was first inhabited in 2000BC and is considered to be the bastion of Minoan Civilization. In 1450 BC a second violent eruption completely destroyed the old island. Its civilization is wiped out, and the tidal wave, reaching as far as the shores or Crete, carries every trace of the Minoan Civilization to the depths of the Aegean. According to mythology, Poseidon and Aphrodite's son, Triton, created the island which was called Callisti in honour of his beauty. The name Thira comes from the name of the Hero of Thebes, Thira, under whos orders the Dorian tribes arrived on the island in the 19th century.

In 304 AD Saint Irene of Thessaloniki was exiled to the island, which since then has been called "Saint Irene's Island", or Santa Irini, from which comes Santorini, while the name Stroggili (round) originated from its odd shape. When a ship enters the waters marked by Santorini and Therasia, the visitor comes into contact for the first time with the coloured, shaped, sheer cliffs of the Caldera. Carved into the rock, the port of Atheniou is the first place to welcome the hordes of tourists, before they set off up the steep road towards the capital of the island, cosmopolitan Fira. Houses built in the style of the Cycladic islands, luxurious hotels, bars and restaurants are crowded together right up to the edge of the cliff, offering a wonderful view of the volacano.

Walking along the narrow alleyways of Fira towards the Caldera, one has the feeling of looking down at the world from up high. If the breathtaking view sweeps you off your feet, you are completely justified, remember though, that it's also well worth taking a stroll through the centre of Fira. Visit the three-storey Museum of Prehistoric Thira in Fira, where finding from the sites of Acrotiri and the greater area of Fira are exchbited. Also take some time to visit the monastery of the Dominican Nums and the Cathedral of Ypapanti. All the roads leading to Oia and Acrotiri, at the northern and Southern most points of the island, start off from Fira. Eleven miles of road dug into the red rock take you to colourful and peaceful Oia.

It is probably the most picturesque town on Santorini, since the multicoloured volcanic rock makesup a wonderful setting for the houses and luxurious hotels of Oia. Walking along the paved alleyways, one is not deprived of the unique view of the impressive volcano and the blue waters of the Aegean. The marble slabs an many buildings and imposing two-storey mansions of Oia is housed in one such mansion. It offers an impressive collection of nautical finds which belonged to the shipowners of Santorini.
An aftrnoon walk in Oia ends up at the end of the town, at the northern most point of the island, where one can admire the world famous sunset of Oia.