Imagine a white city on the edge of a cliff, with the dark blue sea splashing three hundred metres below. Imagine yourself sitting at a table right above the abyss, drinking local white wine and watching the sun slowly sink into the water, while all around you the lights of the houses huddled on the steep cliffs begin to glow. This is Santorini – the island you have almost certainly seen on hundreds of postcards and advertising brochures from Greece.
Most tourists come here for two things: for the photograph of the white houses with blue domes and for the sunset in the village of Oia. Both are truly worth it. But if you stay on the island for more than just one day, you will find much more here. Santorini is not just a Greek island. It is a geological cataclysm frozen in the form of a picturesque postcard. The main thing that distinguishes it from the other Cycladic islands is its shape. Santorini does not have the usual rounded coastline; it is a giant horseshoe, whose sheer walls rise hundreds of metres straight out of the sea depths.
The island that today is called Santorini officially bears the name Thera (Thira). The name "Santorini" became established in the Middle Ages, named after the Church of Saint Irene (Santa Irini). But no matter what it is called, everyone who sees the caldera (the flooded volcano crater) for the first time feels that they are in a special place.
A Secret Buried in Time: The Minoan Akrotiri
What lies beneath the ground: Many come to Santorini for the architecture, but the true historical gem lies beneath the ground. Thousands of years before the famous white houses appeared, a thriving city, Akrotiri, existed in the south of the island.
Connection to the Minoan civilisation: This settlement was closely linked to the legendary Minoan civilisation of Crete. Unlike the warlike Greeks of a later period, the Minoans, judging by the finds, loved the sea, nature and art.
Development and comfort: Akrotiri was a major trading port, a wealthy centre where people lived in comfort that was incredible for its time. The houses of Akrotiri had multi-storey buildings, complex wooden staircases and, most amazingly, drainage systems and flushing toilets.
Death of the city: The city did not die by the sword, but by the fire of the earth. Around the 17th century BC, an event occurred that changed the planet`s landscape. The Thera (Stroggyli) volcano erupted.
The Eruption That Changed Geography
The scale of the disaster: This was one of the most powerful eruptions in human history. Before the eruption, Santorini was a round island that the ancients called Stroggyli, meaning "Round". A volcanic mountain rose in the centre of the island.
The collapse of the island: The eruption proved catastrophic: the huge magma chamber emptied, and under its own weight, the centre of the island collapsed into the void. An enormous mass of rock disappeared into the sea.
The result – Santorini today: We see the result of this catastrophe even today: the round island disappeared forever. In its place remained a crescent – modern-day Santorini, inside which a giant funnel, known as the caldera, was formed. Its depth in places reaches 400 metres, and it was instantly filled with seawater.
Buried cities: The city of Akrotiri, as well as settlements in other parts of the island, were buried under a multi-metre layer of ash and pumice.
The legend of Atlantis: In science, there is a hypothesis that this eruption caused a giant tsunami in the Mediterranean Sea, which led to the decline of the Minoan civilisation on Crete and possibly gave rise to the legend of Atlantis.
What Do Tourists See Today? The Caldera and the Beaches
Today`s Santorini is a unique open-air natural museum.
The main treasure – The Caldera: The island`s main treasure is the caldera. The caldera is not just a sea surrounded by a shore, but a giant volcanic crater, filled with water. On all sides, it is surrounded by sheer cliffs, whose height in places reaches three hundred metres.
Houses on the cliffs: It is on the very edge of these cliffs, like swallows` nests, that the famous white houses with blue domes cling. The view from any point on the caldera`s rim is unforgettable: below, a dark blue, almost black sea pulses; on the horizon, the outlines of volcanic islands are visible; and above, a boundless sky.
Volcanic islands in the centre: In the centre of the caldera are two black volcanic islands, which can also be visited during a boat tour.
• Palea Kameni: This is the old island, known for its hot sulphur springs. The water there has a characteristic yellow-orange colour and heats up to 30-35 degrees.
• Nea Kameni: This is a young black island, which is an active volcano. The last eruption here was recorded in 1950. Now, only jets of sulphurous gas and smoke emerge from its crater, and tourists can climb up to the very vent, feeling the warmth of the earth beneath their feet.
Unique beaches: The beaches of Santorini are unique and unlike the sandy beaches of other Greek islands. The shores here have a futuristic appearance due to the unusual colour of the volcanic rock.
• Red Beach: The most famous is the Red Beach, framed by giant, blood-red cliffs. This shade is given to the rocks by their high iron content.
• Black Beaches (Kamari and Perissa): The sand here is truly black, as it is small pebbles and solidified volcanic lava polished by the sea.
• White Beach (Vlychada): This beach is known for its whimsical white cliffs, eroded by the wind and resembling karst caves or a lunar landscape.
The Geography of Impressions: The Villages of Santorini
The island of Santorini is small, but tourists highlight three key villages that form a so-called "golden chain" along the caldera`s edge. Each of these villages has its own unique character and offers different impressions.
Oia – The island`s calling card: In the north of the island, right on the edge of the caldera, lies the village of Oia. This is Santorini`s true calling card, the very picture from postcards and social media.
• Architecture: Oia is famous for its iconic blue church domes against the backdrop of dazzling white walls.
• Sunset: The main reason thousands of tourists flock here every evening is the sunset. An hour before sunset, people take their places on the walls of the medieval Venetian Castle of Oia to watch the sun, a perfect round disc, slowly sink into the sea.
• Atmosphere: The atmosphere in Oia is expensive, crowded, but incredibly beautiful. There are many art galleries, jewellery boutiques and restaurants with beautiful views.
Imerovigli – An oasis of silence: If Oia is the noisy and most famous centre of attraction, then the village of Imerovigli, located at the highest point of the caldera between Oia and the capital, is an oasis of silence and tranquility.
• Name: Its name translates as "Day Watch", a reminder of the ancient Venetian fortress that once stood here.
• Skaros Rock: The main point of attraction in Imerovigli is Skaros Rock. This huge spike of solidified volcanic lava juts straight out of the sea. In the Middle Ages, a powerful fortress stood on it, but now only ruins remain. A scenic footpath with stone steps leads to the rock.
• Luxury and seclusion: A peaceful atmosphere reigns in Imerovigli, some of the best luxury hotels with infinity pools are located here, and this place is considered ideal for a romantic getaway.
Fira – The noisy capital: Finally, the island`s capital – the town of Fira – lies south of Imerovigli. This is the liveliest, noisiest and most cosmopolitan town on Santorini.
• Port and ascent: This is where cruise ships dock, and this is where most tourists begin their acquaintance with the island. The Old Port of Fira is down by the water, while the town itself is on the cliff top at an altitude of 260 metres. There are three ways to get up from the port: on foot up steep steps (where you can still meet donkeys – traditionally used for the ascent), by the modern cable car, or by taxi.
• Museum of Prehistoric Thera: In Fira, you should definitely visit the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. This is a must-see place for anyone interested in history: it is here that the famous Minoan frescoes from Akrotiri are displayed, such as the `Boxing Boys` and the `Blue Monkeys`, as well as the golden statuette of a wild goat.
Pyrgos – Authentic Santorini: If you want to see the "real", authentic Santorini without the tourist gloss, it`s worth going up to the village of Pyrgos. This was once the capital of the island. The village is crowned by a rock with the ruins of a Venetian castle (Kasteli), which offers a 360-degree panorama of the entire island – the sea, the fields, and the other villages.
Why Do Tourists Come Here?
To sum up, we can highlight five main reasons why travellers from all over the world flock to Santorini.
Unique landscape: The first and most obvious reason is the unique landscape. You will find nowhere else in the world such a combination: the deepest caldera, the panoramic views from a bird`s-eye perspective, and the volcanic beaches of unearthly colours – red, black and white.
Assyrtiko Wines: The second reason is the famous wines of Santorini. Due to the characteristics of the volcanic soil and the strong winds, the grapevines here do not grow vertically, but wind into "baskets" low to the ground. The local white wine, made from the Assyrtiko grape variety, has a distinct mineral, slightly salty tang, which cannot be confused with any other wine in the world.
Cycladic architecture: The third reason is the unique Cycladic architecture. A walk through the labyrinths of narrow white streets, past churches with blue domes and bright patches of blooming bougainvillea bursting straight from the rocks, is a true aesthetic pleasure that attracts artists and photographers here.
Phenomenal sunsets: The fourth reason is the phenomenal sunsets. The light here is special: before sunset, it paints the white marble and the walls of the houses in delicate pink and peach tones, creating an almost unreal, magical atmosphere.
Gastronomy: The fifth reason is gastronomy. Besides the wines, Santorini is famous for its cuisine. Be sure to try Fava – a creamy purée made from local yellow split peas, local goat cheeses, tomato keftedes (meatballs/fritters), and, of course, the freshest seafood, served right by the sea.
Santorini is an island that is hard to confuse with any other. It is not suited for carefree beach holidays where you only need sea, sun and a sun lounger. People come here for something else: for the views that remain in memory as photographs, and for the feeling that you are standing on the edge of something very ancient and powerful.
You shouldn`t try to see all of Santorini in one day. This island requires time. Stay for at least two or three days. Watch the sunset not only in Oia, but also in other villages. Take a walk from Fira to Imerovigli. Visit the black beach and take a dip in the cool water. Drink some local Assyrtiko wine, which smells of rocks and salt. Then you will understand why people return here.
