Santorini Island (Thira)
The romantic island of Santorini, the tourist gem and archaeological pride of Greece, is nestled in the southern Aegean Sea, the cradle of ancient civilization. It is part of the Cyclades, a group of islands steeped in ancient myths, and is often labeled as Thira, Fira or Santorini on nautical charts and in guidebooks.
Video: Santorini
Contents- Highlights
- History of the island of Santorini
Nature and climate - Travel in Santorini
- Thira
- Interesting places
Beaches of Santorini - Excursions to the islands
- Cooking
Where to stay - Shopping
- Transportation
- How to get there
Highlights
The name “Santorini” is also the name of a miniature archipelago, which, besides Santorini itself, includes 4 other small islands. This group of islets, formed as a result of a powerful volcanic explosion, is a natural wonder, and Santorini itself has been one of the most popular and prestigious resorts in the Mediterranean for more than half a century.
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To settle here in the summer months is not easy – the hotels are full, but tourists vacationing in Greece, consider it a matter of honor to at least visit the legendary island with a tour. Those who settled here for a week or two, leisurely traveling around the ancient island, the area of which is quite small – only 76 km². But on this small territory is located a huge number of incredibly beautiful corners: ancient villages, spread terraced on picturesque mountain slopes, sheltered in cozy bays magnificent beaches with black, red, white volcanic sand, soaring into the sky cliffs, to whose tops lead steep paths. Santorini’s stunning sunsets, captured countless times by the masters of cinema and famous photographers, are a symbol not only of the island itself, but of the whole of Greece.
.In Santorini everyone can find something to do. Fans of history and archaeology can visit excavations, and learn how people lived here 4 millennia ago, inquisitive tourists will be interested to see the ancient churches, look into museums, divers will find the local coastline excellent places for diving. Newlyweds from different countries often choose Santorini for their wedding tour, and some couples come here to get married in one of the snow-white Orthodox churches. Cheerful and colorful wedding processions on the narrow streets of Santorini can be seen quite often.
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Couples with children like to vacation on the island. Suitable beaches for them are on its east coast. Many restaurants have special children’s menus, and some also have playgrounds where animators take care of the kids, giving parents the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful dishes of Santorini cuisine.
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History of the island of Santorini
In the 3rd century BC, the territory of Santorini Island was inhabited by a people whose culture was shaped by Minoan Crete. The presence of representatives of this pre-Greek civilization became reliably known in the century before last, when during excavations under a four-meter layer of volcanic ash archaeologists found whole blocks of two or three-story houses, the facades of which were decorated with bright frescoes, reminiscent of the wall paintings of Minoan palaces.
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From 1487, Santorini was under the rule of Venice, and from the end of the 16th century – under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, maintaining, however, a fairly wide autonomy.
In 1830, Santorini became part of the independent Greek state, freed from centuries of Turkish rule..
Nature and climate
Travelers arriving to Santorini by air need only look out the porthole of an airliner to understand why the island was called Strongyla (Round) in ancient times. Today it does not have the completed outline of a circle, but it is easy to imagine, looking at the sea-filled caldera, which on one side of the crescent wrapped around the broken rocks of Santorini, and on the other, as if closing the ring – two islands. One of them, Thirasia, is the second largest in the group of Santorini islands. The other, Aspronisi, is the smallest. While Thirasia and Aspronisi, like Santorini itself, were formed after a volcanic explosion that occurred in the second millennium BC, the two islands located in the center of the caldera, Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, were formed as a result of underwater volcanic eruptions that occurred much later. As a result of seismic shifts in the Earth’s solid rock, the islands have repeatedly changed their size and shape.
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Santorini doesn’t boast lush vegetation, its pride is its fantastic volcanic landscapes that set the island apart from other picturesque parts of the Mediterranean. The sheer cliffs of its west coast rise from the bottom of the caldera, reaching heights of 150-400 meters. They form a grandiose wall of black and red colored rocks, layer by layer changing each other. At the bend of the cliff, closer to the center of the island, is located Thira, the central city of Santorini, to the north is the picturesque town of Ia, in the south – the village of Akrotiri, at the foot of which in cozy coves nestled beaches with coarse white, red and black sand.
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The landscape of other parts of the island is different from that of the steep west coast. Along the central part of Santorini, basalt boulders created by solidified lava stretch from north to south. This rocky plateau gently slopes down to the east coast of the island, fringing a coastline of pebble and sand beaches.
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The beauty of Santorini is dramatic: the outward serenity of nature is deceptive, for beneath the column of seawater that fills the caldera, molten magma roars, separated from the sea by a thin layer of solidified lava. The fact that the volcano does not sleep, reminds of the smoke that sometimes rises from the land crater of the volcano, located on the island of Nea Kameni. The last eruption occurred here in January 1950, and new cataclysms are not at all ruled out.
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But the people of Santorini are true fatalists. They nonchalantly cultivate fertile volcanic soil, growing grapes, vegetables, fruits, diligently paint white and blue paint their houses, decorate them with pretty cachepots with flowering bougainvillea and welcome guests..
The tourist season here lasts from April to October. In April, the weather on the island is sunny, the air warms up to +20 ° C, and daredevils can even swim: the temperature of the coastal water in this month is +16 ° C.
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In May, the thermometer columns rise to +22 ° C, and in the summer months, which are the peak season, the temperature ranges from +28 ° C in June to +35 ° C in August. The water warms up to +25 °C.
.September (especially its first half) is as hot as August. The weather remains warm in October: +23…+26 °С. This month is the best time for those who like to rest in a quiet environment, because the influx of tourists in October significantly decreases. In November, the temperature drops to +18 ° C, the rains begin.
.Winter in Santorini is relatively warm: +12…+16 ° C, but the weather is capricious, it is often windy and rainy.
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Traveling Santorini
The most exhilarating panoramas of Santorini will be revealed to you if you decide to get here by sea. As you approach the island, you will be able to watch the ascetic sheer cliffs literally grow out of the depths of the sea. As soon as the ship enters the caldera, they will gradually surround you, luring you with their romantic, mysterious, but somewhat gloomy appearance. The views are especially marvelous at dawn and dusk.
.Tourists arriving in Santorini by ferry are welcomed by the lively port of Afinios, in the harbor of which white-washed yachts bob on azure waves. The bright colors of this cozy coastal corner sharply contrast with the black-gray-red painted in black and gray-red colors steep bare rocks, as if calming, and reminding that Santorini is not only a natural wonder, but also a resort center. In the harbor area there are hotels that receive an endless stream of guests during the tourist season. Buses depart from here, taking travelers to different corners of the island.
.Cruise ships usually stop at the roadstead, and travelers are taken to land by boats docking at the old port of Mesa Yalos. From here, the island’s main town, Tira, located above the curve of the caldera at an elevation of approximately 260 meters, can be reached in a variety of ways. If you have your own luggage with you, take the cable car. The carriages leave every 20 minutes from 6:40 to 20:00 and cost 5 €. Keep in mind that the cable car runs from May through September, and you may have to wait in line for about half an hour.
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If you’re light, you can walk up the 588 steps to the city. It will take you an hour and a half. You can also do a fun ride on a donkey, mule or horse that will take you to Thira in 20-30 minutes. This pleasure costs about 8 €, but you can bargain. This way of traveling is not dangerous when the road leads upwards, but before you go in the opposite direction, downwards, think carefully: the hooves of the animals often slip on the steep stone road, which has become almost polished over time. It’s not a pleasant sensation!
.Thira
Perched on a steep cliff, Thira welcomes you with white, toy-like houses with blue or terracotta shutters, which are scattered chaotically on the mountainside. Its central square, Theotokopoulou, always lively and bustling, is lined with restaurants, stores, souvenir and jewelry stores. From here the distances to the towns and villages of Santorini are counted. There is also a bus station and a cab stand. Organized excursions around the island traditionally depart from the square.
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In Thira it is interesting to see the famous Christian churches, Catholic and Orthodox: the Dominican monastery, the white-washed, blue-domed church of St. Mina, which is the symbol of Santorini, the cathedral (of the Presentation of the Lord). Opposite the cathedral are the famous Doors of Fira, open to the sea, sunlight and wind. Once you pass through them, you will find yourself on a platform with a stunning view of the caldera and the volcanic island of Nea Kameni.
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It is worth a visit to the Archaeological Museum, which presents a rich exposition of artifacts found during excavations on the island of Santorini: elegant marble statuettes (III millennium BC), ancient sculptures, decorated with skillfully painted amphorae.
.Of interest is also the Museum of Megaro Gizi, located in a beautiful building, built in Venetian style. Here you can see the works of modern artists, a collection of ancient maps, prints and photographs of the island.
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Santorini’s main town is the center of evening entertainment. It is home to countless bars, taverns, restaurants, and discos. Most of them have outdoor venues that offer beautiful views. During sunsets in many establishments classical music is played, effectively sharpening the visual perception of the luxurious action of nature.
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Interesting places
Thira merges imperceptibly into the picturesque resort village of Firostefani, nestled along the line of the caldera’s curve. This quiet fairytale town fringes it with its white houses, among which rises the temple of St. Gerasimos, surrounded by dense cypresses.
.Behind it lies the village of Imerovigli. This place got its name, which translates as “day watch”, due to its strategic position on one of the highest points of the caldera. Once the sentries used to look out from here into the sea distances, watching for the sails of enemy ships.
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From the tourist area of the village begins a path with steps leading to the top of Skaros Rock. This hiking route, by the way, is quite difficult, but the path is laid out in such a way that from any point you can see magnificent panoramas of the caldera, Tira, small villages scattered on the slopes of the cliff.
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In the 13th century, the Venetians laid a fortress on the rock, and for several centuries Skaros was the capital of the island. Today, only ruins remain of the fortifications. From the top of the rock there are steps leading down to the original church of Teoskepasti, partially built into the rock.
.At 10 km from Thira is one of the most picturesque parts of Santorini – the village of Ia. The first mention of this village dates back to 1650, but historians believe that its age is more respectable. Snow-white houses of the town, churches with blue domes, ancient mills bunched on the edge of the abyss, as if supporting each other, and literally hanging over the caldera, clinging to the high cliff.
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There are many ancient churches in Pyrgos, the oldest of which is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built in the 11th century. Most of the local churches were built between the 16th and 17th centuries.
At the top of the mountain of Prophet Elijah is located a monastery with the same name, which looks more like a well-fortified bastion. The monastery was begun in 1711 and was built in two stages, completing the work in 1857. It was under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople and was famous for its wealth. The Ecclesiastical and Rodovan schools operated here, where local children had the opportunity to learn Greek.
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Today within the walls of the monastery are stored religious relics and rare manuscripts. It also has a rich ethnographic collection.
History buffs should definitely visit the Ancient Thira Archaeological Reserve and the Akrotiri excavations. Ancient Thira is located 15 kilometers from the modern capital of Santorini, on the southeastern coast of the island. It is perched on a mountain rising 400 meters above sea level. By car or bus along the picturesque serpentine road you can reach only the parking lot, and then you have to climb on foot or on one of the ubiquitous donkeys for 25 € per person. For entrance to the excavation area you will have to pay 14 €. For tourists the reserve is open from 10:00 to 14:45. Take warm clothes with you, as it is often very windy at the top of the mountain.
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At the entrance you will see the small Byzantine church of St. Stephen from the 4th century. Walking around the ancient city, you can see the temple of Artemis, carved in the rock, the temple of Dionysus, the sanctuary of Apollo, the ruins of the ancient theater and Roman baths, altars of temples of Egyptian gods, which stood here in the era of the Ptolemies.
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The archaeological site of Akrotiri is located in the south of Santorini, near the settlement from which it was named. Excavations are being carried out on the site of a Bronze Age settlement, founded here, as scientists believe, in the third millennium BC. After the volcanic eruption, which occurred between 1645 and 1500 BC, the village covered a multi-meter layer of ash, thanks to which its buildings are well preserved. They first became known in 1866, when the volcanic soil of Santorini was used to reinforce the earthen bed of the Suez Canal.
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In 1967, an international group of researchers, led by the famous Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos, discovered here the ruins of an ancient city with the remains of three-story buildings, on the facades of which are preserved beautiful frescoes, complex drainage and sewage systems, household items, furniture. Scientists often make sensational discoveries here, allowing them to better understand the history of antiquity. Some claim that the legendary Atlantis was once located here. Entrance to the excavation area costs 12€.
.Beaches of Santorini
Santorini’s original colorful beaches have become world famous and are among the top ten beaches on the planet. Paradoxically, they owe their beauty and originality to a catastrophic volcanic eruption and a devastating earthquake. Ejected from the bowels of the earth rocks and volcanic ash turned into sand of amazing colors, and the shifts of the earth’s crust formed a unique beauty of the relief of the coastline.
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The depth of the sea in the waters of Santorini reaches 400 meters, so the water here even in the heat of August is pleasantly cool. The color of the sea water is also delightful. Depending on the time of day it becomes turquoise, deep blue, emerald, or blue-black.
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One of the most popular beaches on the island is Kamari. The once humble village has now become a trendy international resort. The beach is located 10 km southeast of Thira, in a flat area. It stretches for 8 km and has been awarded the Blue Flag. The entrance to the sea here is precipitous, so parents should keep a close eye on their children. On Kamari black volcanic sand mixed with pebbles, by noon it becomes hot, so barefoot walking here is difficult, you need beach shoes.
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On the beach there are all conditions for active recreation: playgrounds for badminton, beach volleyball, mini-football. Works diving center. There is a children’s zone with attractions, kids can have fun and in the company of actors-animators. On Kamari there are many cafes and taverns, there are souvenir shops.
.For 6 € you can rent a couple of sun loungers and an umbrella. Hiring a boat will cost 3-4 €, rowers will take you to one of the neighboring beaches.
. On the southeastern coast of Santorini sits another famous beach, Perisa. It is located near the village with the same name, at the foot of the mountain Mesa Vouno. The sand here is coarse, dark gray asphalt color. Along the water’s edge there are stone slabs formed by lava. Vegetation has settled on their surface, which gives the impression that they are covered with velvet or velour. In the water here you need to enter with caution, so as not to slip, in addition, the bottom here is stony, and the shore immediately falls into the depths. . The cost of renting two chairs and an umbrella on this beach is 8 €. There is a diving center on the beach where you can rent equipment. . Perisa beach is protected by a mountain, so there is no wind. However, it is quite a noisy place: there are many bars, restaurants, night clubs, discos, often perform artists. . Monolithos beach, also located in the southeast of Santorini, near the village of the same name, is perfect for a vacation with children. The black sand here is fine and soft, the entrance to the sea is long and gentle. Kids can have fun on the playground, and at the service of their parents – volleyball court, cafes, taverns. . At the southern tip of Santorini, near the village of Akrotiri, is located Red Beach. This incredibly picturesque place got its name thanks to its fringing red-red rocks and red-colored pebbles. Bright colors of the coast in conjunction with no less expressive turquoise color of the sea water create a fantastic picture worthy of an artist’s brush. The secluded beaches located in the picturesque coves of Santorini’s north coast are incredibly distinctive. However, they are all inaccessible, and tourists have to take steep paths to get to the sea. The journey can be made on foot, or by donkey or mule. Many travelers arrive at local beaches by boat. This part of the sea area is ideal for diving. To experience the reality of a natural cataclysm four millennia ago, head to the island of Nea Kameni in Santorini’s caldera. Here, near the terrestrial crater of a lurking volcano, from which a light smoke periodically rises, emitting a hydrogen sulfide odor, it will be easier to imagine how the dramatic events unfolded on the island thousands of years ago. Nea Kameni is uninhabited, there are no fresh water sources, vegetation is very sparse, but the volcanic landscape of the island cannot leave anyone indifferent. To the crater you will be led by a rather steep path, bordered by lava formations of the most bizarre shapes. You will have to walk about one and a half kilometers, so beach flip-flops are not suitable for such a trip. The sea water off the coast of the island surprises with its unusually rich green color. This is due to the fact that the thermal springs erupting from the bottom of the sea favor the growth of seaweeds, which are usually brightly colored. . In the waters of the neighboring island of Palea Kameni such springs are even more numerous, and the water here has a color not at all attractive, with a tinge of rust. Nevertheless, it has healing properties, and the mooring of a sea excursion ship near the island with mass bathing of tourists in the coastal waters – an indispensable component of the excursion to the islands of the caldera. Many do not respond well to such entertainment after realizing that expensive swimsuits and swim trunks can not be laundered. Visiting the island of Thirasia, a fragment of the ancient island of Strongyla, you will learn what Santorini looked like before the invasion of tourists. However, you will only be able to do this as part of an individual trip, when you will have the opportunity to spend the morning or evening hours here, or decide to stay on the island for a week. Every day closer to noon excursion groups land here, and you can forget about peace and quiet. But you can’t say that the locals are not happy about it, especially those who own taverns and guesthouses. The island’s main town, Manolas, is located 200 meters above sea level, and its main difference from the villages of Santorini is its completely peaceful atmosphere. Excursions to the islands usually depart from Mesa Yialos, the old port of Thira. The trip can be taken by ferry or traditional boat, the caiki, with a personalized guide (cost between 10 and 30 €). Additionally you will have to pay an environmental fee of 2 € for visi 
Excursions to the islands
