General about Santorini
Santorini lies at the south end of the
prefecture of
Cyclades islands in a distance of 128 miles from the
port of
Piraues . The area of the island is 75 square Km , and has thirteen villages, and its population 7.328 people (1981 census).
The capital of Santorini or (
Thira ) is Fira and along with the villages Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia, they offer a unique scenery and an outstanding view at the highest point of the Caldera,(a vast bay of 7x14 miles the largest Caldera on the earth) 300 meters high, overlooking the Volcano.
Santorini can be reached by air from
Athens with two flights per day or by ferry from Piraues with frequent departures throught the year. During the summer period there are additional flights between Santorini and other islands, and charter flights from abroad. There are also nautical connections between Santorini and many other Cyclades islands, Dodecanesse, Crete and
Thessaloniki . Local boats take the island visitors for daily cruises to the volcano and to the nearby island Thirasia.
Santorini is the most extraordinary island in the
Aegean . You sail into a strange, enclosed sea, shut off by the
Burnt
Islands . The volcanic cliffs of Santorini are red, brown or greenish, surmounted by a string of white villages. It is rather like a model of a monster's jaw made by some infernal dentist; a sinister and alarming place, like nowhere else.
Jetting out from the deep blue sea its volcanic sheer cliffs topped with gleaming white village homes and churches, resemble snowcapped mountains. The thunderous fury of nature left its mark on the island, the home of
Greece 's last active volcano which still smolders today. Layer upon layer of red volcanic rock interspersed with white buildings and specks of greenery form a visual demonstration found nowhere else.
The entire center of the circular island sank into the sea during the tremendous volcanic explosion of 3.500 years ago. The eruption caused tidal waves which virtually wiped out the advanced Minoan civilization of
Crete 70 miles to the south. Some scholars believe that the island is part of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis which supposedly slipped underwater during the disaster.
What remains today of Santorini is a large cresent-shaped island enclosing a vast bay, the largest caldera on earth (7X14 miles). There are also four much smaller islands called Thirassia, Nea Kameni, Palia Kameni and Aspronisi.
Worth to visit
The destroyed
castle of
Skaros , it is worth to visit. Kamari, Perisa, Perivolos and Monolithos are the most popular black sandy beaches of the island. Pyrgos is a large village retaining its medieval features. The village has fine old houses, a ruined Venetians castles and Byzantine churches, the most notable is the Theotokaki.
Other traditional villages are: Karterados, is 2km east from Fira, Messaria is geographically in the center of the island, Megalochori is located 9km fron Fira, Mesa Gonia has suffered greatly during 1956is earthquake and many of its residents abandoned it to settle in the
village of
Kamari . The most significant Byzantine monument on the island, Panagia Episcopi is located here. It was built in the end of the 11th century with all expenses paid by the Byzantine emperor, Alexios Komninos. Also Emporio, Messaria and Vothonas have some commercial interest .
