Santorini Island

My trips to Santorini Island Greece     

Trip To Santorini 2005

It was my first time there in Santorini. We stayed in the village of Ioa (Ia) at the northen end of the island. It is a stunning and spectacular place.
Great views if you get a place to stay on the cliff side of the island. No very close beaches, but you can walk down to the bottom of the cliff too swim off the rocks.

The best beach seemed to be at a place called Perissa. places to stay there, as well as bars, cafes etc.
The best place to party was Karama Beach.
The largest town is Fira (thira). No beach, not as nice as Ioa, but less expensive.

All in all I would say, if someone wanted a romantic holiday, definatly stay at Ioa.
getting there by plane is the best. only a 40 minute flight. the ferry can take anywhere from 6 to 9 hours.
hope that helps.

by Rich 2005

It is the most active volcanic centre in the Aegean Arc, though what remains today is largely a caldera. The name Santorini was given to it by the Venetians in the 13th century and is a reference to Saint Irene. Before then it was called Kallisti, Strongili or Thera.

The Santorini island was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the last several thousand years when it erupted cataclysmically about 3,500 years ago. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by ash deposits hundreds of feet deep, and its effects may have indirectly led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (70 mi) to the south.


Santorini Island was annexed to Greece in year 1912. Major settlements in Santorini include Fira (Phira), Oia, Emporio, Kamari, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and Therasia. Akrotiri is a major archaeological site with ruins from the Minoan era . The island has no rivers and water is scarce. Until the early nineties locals used to fill water tanks from the rain that fell on their roofs and courts, from small springs as well as by importing it from other areas of Greece. Nowadays, there is a desalination plant that provides running, yet nonpotable, water to most houses. The primary industry of Santorini is tourism. The pumice quarries have been closed since 1986 in order to preserve the caldera of Santorini.

Santorini is home to a small but flourishing wine industry, based on the indigenous grape variety, Assyrtiko. Assyrtiko vines are extremely old, as they are resistant to phylloxera and have consequently not needed to be replaced during the great phylloxera epidemic of the early 20th century. They are adopted to their native habitat by being planted far apart and their principal source of moisture is dew. They are trained in the shape of baskets, with the grapes hanging inside to protect them from the winds. Also unique is the red, sweet and extremely strong Vinsanto.

In 1704 an undersea volcano breached the sea surface forming the current centre of activity at Nea Kameni, and eruptions centred on it continuethree times in the twentieth century, the last being in 1950. Santorini was also struck by a devastating earthquake in 1956. At some time in the future, it will undoubtedly erupt violently again.

SANTORINI WINE MUSEUM

The unique natural CAVE WINE MUSUEM at Fira, is a great opportunity for every visitor of the island to come and learn the history of the art making and taste the wine under the hospitable vine arbour's shade of the wine making factory. The Musuem is open daily between 12:00pm - 20:00pm., tel: +30 22860 31322


Reservation center for SANTORINI HOTELS
lets find out more about accommodation in Santorini Island

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