Santorini

Santorini’s group of islands is consisted of Thera, Thirasia, Aspronisi, Palea and Nea Kameni (Volcanoes) islands and is located in the most southern part of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, 63 nautical miles north of Crete.

The whole complex of Santorini islands is still an active volcano and probably the only volcano in the world whose crater is in the sea. Once there, a visit to caldera is a not miss.
Oia, the little village hanging for the island cliffs, is said to offer the best sunset view in the world. It is no wonder that thousands of people are flooding the narrow streets of Oia, to have a glimpse of this amazing natural spectacle.
The Minoan site is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Last but not least, Santorini is blessed with the unique red beach, where volcanic stone has created a seaside different to anything else.

The human presence on the island seems to be existed since the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. The excavation have confirmed that man’s activity on the island continued until the eruption of the volcano in around 1600 B.C., which entirely buried the island beneath very thick layers of lava. All traces of human activity vanished from the island until the end of the 13th century B.C.
According to Herodotus, the island was initially called Strongyle (the Round one). Later, because of its beauty, it was called Kalliste (the Fairest one). The Phoenicians came to Kalliste and there they settled. After the Phoenicians, the Lacedaemonians arrived and gave the island the name of their leader, Theras.
In the 9th century B.C. Thera, became an important point on the communication route between the East and the West of that era and adopted the Phoenician alphabet for writing the Greek language.
The name Santorini was given by the Crusaders after the church of Aghia Irini (Santa Irene) which some say was at Perissa and others say was at Riva on Thirasia.
In 1821, Santorini with its shipping strength, took part in the fight for independence from the Turks, and in 1830 became part of the independent Greek state.
Up until the beginning of the 20th century shipping, textiles, tomato production and viticulture were all flourishing.
After the 1956 earthquake there was a huge decrease in the population and an economic catastrophe.
Towards the end of the 70’s tourism began to develop, bringing economic relief to the island.