Santorini
Santorini , like most of the Cycladic Island, has a rich history.
Santorini is plenty of archaeological sites which proves the first man presence on the island back to the Neolithic Period. Santorini history had the same evolution that in the other islands of the Cyclades.
An important civilization seems to have existed near Akrotiri, at the south of the island, next to the famous Red beach, dating back to 3600 BC. It was proved that Akrotiri was a Minoan city, like those found in Crete. The houses were plenty of frescos and pottery showing naturalistic landscapes or animals or humans. In ancient time, Santorini , then called Strongili (means rounded in greek), was the victim of an enormous volcano eruption dating back to 1500 BC and what remained today are Thera, Therasia and Aspronisi.
Santorini history says that the explosions created huge waves which washed the shores of the surrounding islands and Crete. The consequence of that explosion is that a part of the island sank and the earthquakes destroyed all the rest of the island. Many people relate the sinking of the island to the mythical Atlantis(check the links).
Santorini history says that around 1300 BC, Phoenicians settled for five generations.
Around 1115 BC, the island was colonised by Lacedaemonian.
Around 825 BC, the Phoenician alphabet was imported on the island, in Milos and Crete and the Hellenic language was created.
In the 7th and 6th centuries BC, Thera shared relations with most of the trade islands of Greece, Corinth and Attica.
In 300-145 BC, during the Hellenistic Period, Thera, for its position in the Cyclades, became a important strategical naval base.
From 197 BC to 726 AC, Santorini history sais that the volcano exploded four times.
Between 1200 AC and 1579 AC, the islands saw the occupation by the Byzantines and the Venetians.
From 1579 to 1821 AC Santorini was occupated by the Turkish until the Greek Revolution.
Santorini is one of the most popular destinations of Greece and it is known as one of the most spectacular landscape in the world. Every year, thousands of visitors go to Santorini to discover the famous submerged caldera, the volcano's crater which is situated today in the middle of a 32 square miles basin of water. Around the basin, hanging on cliffs of 150m to 300m height, you can find one of the most beautiful traditional villages of the Cyclades.
White Cycladic houses and blue painted windows fighting against black volcanic rocks rising from the sea, is a spectacle that will inspire more than an artist... This villages are Fira, Firostefani, Immerovigli and Oia.
In ancient times, the shape of Santorini was circular and that was the reason it was also called Strongili (means circular in Greek). The volcano's eruption destroyed the centre of the island, which sank, creating today's Caldera.
The first eruption of the Volcano (around 1500 BC) would be responsible for the destruction of the Minoan civilisation in Crete.
The last eruption in Santorini dates to 1956 and today, the volcano is still active. It is told that the destruction of Santorini could be related to the mythical Atlantis.
THE VOLCANO
It is not only the fascination of its craggy precipices, the legend of the lost island of Atlantis, the contrast between the deep blue of the sea, the white of the pumice stone or the black intensity of the lava that make Santorini unique.
Nor is it just the lovely little bars from which classical music floats out discreetly to greet the lights around the caldera as the evening draws in to a close.
Santorini has one of the most violent volcanoes on the face of the earth; a huge, open-air, geological and volcanological museum, unique in the world.
The geological situation in the Aegean region is determined by the sinking of the African lithospheric plate under the Eurasian plate. The African plate is sinking to the South of Crete, under the Aegean, as it is moving to the Northwest, at a speed estimated at 4 to 5 cm each year. This process has been going on in the last 15 million years at a depth ranging from 120 to 140 km. At such depth, the presence of the submerged lithospere in the earth's crust creates appropriate conditions for magma generation.
The last huge eruption of the volcano dates back 3,600 years, in the late bronze age. This was a period when the island was vibrant with life and movement, enjoying a flourishing civilisation similar to that of Minoan Crete. This tremendous eruption, known as the "Minoan eruption", ejected into the air 30 cubic kilometers of magma in the form of pumice and volcanic ash,to a height of up to 36 kilometers above the island, even seen in Norway. 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 removal of such a large volume of magma caused the volcano to collapse, producing the Caldera. This catastrophe, gave rise to the legend of the Lost Atlantis. Where the island of Strongyli, (which means "round island", as we called the island before this eruption), once flourished in the brilliance of its civilisation; there now gaped a yawning crucible which the sea rushed to fill. Thira, Thirassia and Aspronissi: these are all that remain of Strongyli.
The eruption probably caused the end of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, because of the immense seawaves.
Two million years have passed since the molten rock, the magma, first broke out of the depths in which it was formed, to appear on the surface of the earth here in this spot. It has taken thousands of eruptions since then to build up again the volcano of Santorini . In the last 400,000 years there have been more than 100 eruptions, each of which added a new layer of earth and rock, slowly making the volcano bigger
Since 1969, intense archeological excavations have brought to light an important Cycladic town , Akrotiri, which had been buried beneath the Minoan ash-layer for almost 4000 years. Although it appears that people had time to evacuate their island in time before the eruption, carrying most of their goods with them, the findings from Akrotiri are impressive: especially, they include well-preserved and magnificent wall paintings, ceramics and other objects.
The eruption of 1926
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 vulcano islands in the center of the caldera, Palea and Nea Kameni. They are the youngest volcanic lands now 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 lavalayers are less than 55 years old. These islands represent the volcano's most recent activity. Eleven eruptions since 197 B.C. have formed the two islands. The most recent eruption at Santorini was in 1950 on Nea Kameni, the northern island. The eruption was phreatic and lasted less than a month. It constructed a dome and produced lava flows.
Archaeology in Santorini
Ancient Thera
Thera was built on Mesa Vouno (396m above sea level, see photo 1), very near to Kamari.
A steep winding road leads from Kamari up to Mesa Vouno. The strategic advantages of the site attracted the attention of the Lacedaemonians who founded their city on 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.
Here you will also find the ruines of three churches of the early fourth or fifth century BC. Many other items of archaeological interest can be found here, like the sanctuary of Artemis with the symbols of a lion and an eagle, representing Apollo and Zeus. One can see the ruins of the agora, theater, public and private buildings, but of the finds an Archaic clay idol, completely intact, is the most impressive.
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a village built about 12 km from Thera to the southwest of the island.
The excavations in that area unveiled the city of Acropolis, a fortified Venetian stronghold in the medieval years, which was destoyed after the occupation by the Turks.
The remains of the stronghold can clearly be seen.
There are two churches, Aghia Triada and Ipapandi tou Sotiros.
Akrotiri is best preserved of all the prehistoric settlements discovered in the Aegean. Excavation of the site evidenced that the volcano had indeed erupted around 1500 BC, since the remains of the town were buried beneath a deep layer of volcanic ashes.
The prehistoric town of Akrotiri was the centre of a highly developed civilisation which reached its summit in about 1550 - 1500 BC (a period known as Late Minoan IA).
The area had been continuously inhabited since the neolithic period, until a tremendous volcanic eruption covered everything the islanders had created with a layer of pumice and ashes.
The architecture of the city is strongly Cycladic. The houses were two - or three - storeys high with many rooms. The most luxurious houses were built of moulded stone; the others were made of mud and straw.
No written documents of any kind have been found in the prehistoric city of Akrotiri.
This means that, in order to be able to get some picture of economic and social life before the catastrophe, scientists had to rely solely on the rich findings unearthed by the digs.
The reputation of the Cycladic islanders as seafarers as well as scenes in frescos, showing naval fleets, led to the conclusion that the citizens of Akrotiri must have had a flourishing merchant navy. This would have allowed them to maintain trade with Crete and the mainland of Greece. Natural scenes in the frescos show subjects that are not native to Greece, but rather seem related to the landscape of Egypt indicating that the islanders also had contact with that region.
The large number of vases and other types of pottery, tell us that another flourishing sector of the island's economy was that of ceramic production. The finding of stone tools and vessels, such as mills, pestels and hammers, implies a well-developmed form of masonry. Finally, the high quality of town planning, architecture and painting shows that Santorinians of that period were superb architects, constructors, engineers, and artists.
Based on its architecture and the town plan the settlement at Akrotiri reveals a good deal about the structure of its society.
Kamari, archaeological sites
Recently new excavations started in Kamari, to reveal what are likely the most ancient remnants of Thera. It is known that at the time, people tried to build a harbour in Kamari. But they seem never to have succeeded.
Kamari Beach
If it is a summer resort you are looking for on Santorini , then Kamari is the place to be.
Kamari, holdayresort Santorini has magnificent beaches, created by the volcano, where the sand is black, red, or white and the sea is deep blue and crystal clear.
The black sandy beach of Kamari, at least two kilometers in lenght, is the main attraction.
Along the beach front, there are lots of several restaurants, taverns and snack bars to please all tastes and budgets.
During the evening and night you can choose from bars, live music, traditional Greek dancing and modern disco clubs.
The outdoor cinema, the only one on the island, provides some nice movies.
An old winery, that of "Volcan" agency, established in 1880, has been converted to a museum of wine production.
It is presented the process of wine making, as well as the equipment and machinery used, traditional artefacts etc.
Kamari is well connected by public bus with Fira and the rest of the island.
Especially in summer the bus service runs every 15 minutes.
Travel agencies and rent-a-car facilities are also available, and there is always the alternative of taxi or private car.
You can find various shops for gifts and souvenirs, but also for your needs during vacation.
A medical center is available in case of health problems.
Excursions are made in summer to the nearby island of Anafi.
The boats depart from the small port of the village.
Completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1956, Kamari was and is the most important strategic point on the island of santorini, after the decline of Akrrotiri of ancient times.
Nearby the village is the archaeological site of Acient Thera. Even in the village itself, recent archeological sites have been found.
Also of interest in Kamari is the church of panaghia Eskopi , which was built in 1100.
The best time to visit the church is on august 15th during the feast of the Virgin Mary, when the church celebrates with a large Jazz festival, known as the "Kamariano Panighyri".
Various cultural activities take place during this month.
You are invited to join in on the merrymaking with plenty of food, dancing and singing taking place.
A local feast, also in honor of Virgin Mary ("Panaghia Myrtidiotissa") takes place on September 24th. The church Panaghia Mirtidiotissa celebrates with a festival, where again the tourists are invited to dine and wine with the inhibitants.
However, as Kamari is one of the spots of attraction in Santorini , it is advised to book soon enough your accomodation, especially during August.
About Thira (Fira)
the island's capital, is built along the upper slopes of the west coast.Thira, Santorini It is linked to the harbor by a steep, stepped road and by cable car, from which one has a superb view over the harbor and shoreline.
Its houses are built in a style unique to the island.
Small, dazzlingly white, with numerous windows and vaulted roofs they present a stunning picture, in which the larger mansions and the Archeological Museum stand out.
The aristocratic families used to live at Imerovigli, where there are ruins of old mansions and the monastery of Agios Nikolaos (1674).
Skaros is the site of one of the island's most important fortresses. Abandoned in the 17th century, this was the mediaeval capital.
From Fira Harbour one can make unforgettable boattrips to the volcano's in the middele of the Caldera Sea, Nea Kameni and Old Kameni. Here you will be able to visit the volcano craters and to take a swim in the lovely hot springs.
About Oia
In the traditional village of Oia (Ia) in Santorini , where the sea meets the sky, the full moon, the sunrise and the sunset are considered to be one of the best in the world.Oia is where many of the most breathtaking pictures in the travel brochures for Greece are taken. Its narrow, winding streets are a delight to explore and it is generally less crowded than Fira.Oia
All this changes at about 6 p.m. , when the tourists begin flooding in for the most hyped show on Santorini – Oia’s sunset. One minute, the bright sun glares on the walls and reflects from the roofs; the next minute, it softens the white while brightening the yellow and bringing out the undertone of the various shades of blue. For half an hour or so, the ball of fire alters the colour of the sky, dulls the mirror-like sea, and transforms the entire look of the land. Then it lowers itself slowly into the water, melts its heat into the cool sea, resting for a few hours before raising its torch anew for another day on the island. Bring your camera and don’t move from your good spot. You will never forget these coloured views of the Caldera. This is something that will remain in your memory forever.
The village consists of houses, tourist rooms, bars, restaurants, churches and souvenir shops - from a distance it is difficult to tell what any given building is. Narrow paths wind between the buildings, and flights of steps, which seem to be heading nowhere, transport you to another terrace or pathway. This is a great place to spend a morning getting lost.
The white washed buildings of Oia on Santorini sit on the steep cliffs and create a romantic image.
As the sunset sets on this beautiful haven, the buildings reflect the wonderful colours after the most famous sunset on Santorini Island.
This small village is only 12km away from Thira. Bus KTEL departs from the coach station will take you there for about €1 fare. The ride takes 30 minutes, and fare is purchased onboard. Oia has the same blue on whitewashed as Thira does, but there are also many shades of ochre, pastel and a good use of grey colour.