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For Santorini FAQS:
info@santorinigreece.net
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PRESENTING THE ISLAND
Santorini, also know as Thera, is widely
considered to be Greece's most spectacular island. Thousands of tourists
come every year to gape at the caldera of this volcano, a vestige of what
was probably the world's largest volcanic eruption ever.
This
eruption, which occurred sometime around 1450 BC, caused the middle of the
volcano to sink, leaving a caldera of high cliffs, one of the world's most
dramatic geographic spectacles.
There is a theory, one that has fired
the imagination of writers, artists and mystics since ancient times, that
postulates that the island was part of the lost continent of
Atlantis. |
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IN THE CAPITOL CITY
From the
landing-place, Skala, we can climb up to Fira, the capital, on foot or on
donkey-back. There is a funicular railway for those who wish to avoid the
hundreds of steps. Fira is very attractive, with winding narrow streets,
arcades and a quarter where the Catholic nobility once dwelt. . There is a
superb view out from Fira to the Kamenes, the two islets of black stone
created by the volcano.
The site at Akrotiri has yielded the remains of
a Minoan city destroyed around 1500 BC by an eruption of the volcano on
Thira. In effect, this is a prehistoric version of Pompeii buried beneath
volcanic ash, with two and three-storeyed houses, with squares, shops,
workshops and so on. Among the finds from the houses were marvelous murals
(on display in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens), vases, and
everyday utensils.
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MUST VISIT
The
old-world village of Ia, 11 km. to the north of Fira, is a place of
incomparable beauty. The unique appeal of Ia lies in its little
houses hewn out of the soft rock, its neo-classical mansions with
their courtyards, its narrow paved alleys. There is a superb view
out to sea. Among the best bathing beaches - some of them with black
sand and others with pebbles - are Kamari or Armeni, Amoudi, Baxedes
Perissa, Monolithos and Kokini Paralia. The striking landscape, the
peculiarities of the natural environment, the unusual architecture
and the outstanding monuments of Santorini attract very large
numbers of visitors in the summer - so many, in fact, that the
excellent tourist amenities of the island can only just cope with
them. |
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ND MORE...
It is not only the silent
crater visited by the tourist caiques, but everything else that you
see and feel.
Breakfast on the balcony at the edge of the
Caldera, the journey from Fira to Ia, Thirassia in its time warp,
the black pebbles at
Perivolas, the sculptured rocks at Vlyhada,
the cut-in-the-rock houses at Ia, the sunset at Faros, the full moon
rising out of the sea at Monolithos.
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THE
CLIMATE
Climatic conditions are typical for the Cyclades
region, with long sunshine duration & little rainfall. Humidity is
relatively high (in fact, it is the main water source for vegetation).
Temperature fluctuations are rather limited throughout the year and snow
is a rare event. Winds usually come from the North quite strongly
(especially the meltemi in August), but sometimes the south ones are nasty
too.
ECONOMY
Santorini is well known for
its strong and tasty wines which are the major local products, the most
interesting being the white nikteri (from grapes picked before dawn), the
sweet red vissanto ('vino santo') and the powerful tsikoudia (strong grape
schnapps, identical to grappa). The local agriculture yields a limited
amount of vegetables, small and tasty. A few tomato processing old
factories still exist, idle but charming examples of past industrial
architecture.
Shipping has always had a great historical, financial
and political importance, with many local seamen and shipping tycoons. The
surrounding waters are very good for fishing, but usually the demand for
fresh fish exceeds the supply. The newest sector with vast & fast
growth is tourism, involving a large part of the permanent and seasonal
population. |
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TOURISM
The spectacular &
unique landscape, the distinctive vernacular architecture and the
long runaway have caused a rapid increase of mass tourism during the
recent years, with all the related side effects on the environment
& the attitude of the locals. Settlements like Kamari &
Perissa are quite busy in summer, continuously growing thanks to the
hordes of visitors.
The port of Fira is a routine stop for
every East Mediterranean cruise. There are quite a few sandy shores
easily accessible by car; Kamari & Perissa beaches are crowded
in summer, though there are spots with better sand & fewer
people at short distance. The sea in Caldera is deep (down to 400
meters at a spot west of Merovigli) and clean, but accessible only
at a few points -and by few people.
Nudism is rather
tolerated, especially in some less crowded spots like Koloumbos.
Special attractions include the excavation site in Akrotiri, the
islets of New & Old Kammeni (with black lava rocks and sulphur
water warm all year), and local religious events (like in Riva on
the 5th of May).
The above brief on Santorini climate, economy & tourism is a
contribution by Thanos N. Stasinopoulos, architect. See his web site
‘The
Blue Volcano’ for more details on
Santorini architecture. |
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