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The history of Santorini is not only a history of people but also a privileged history that develops and shapes by itself. In order to understand the above, you have to think that Santorini did not exist in Cyclades. It was born after the eruption of a volcano. The history of Santorini is the history of a place, which is not granted and must be started over every now and then. The first inhabitants of Santorini were Pro-Hellenes who appeared in 3000 BC.
Mythology: The myth of Deucalion and Pyra, who were saved from the deluge, which was caused by Zeus to punish the mortals, is closely connected with the eruption in Santorini. This myth is chronologically placed in 1530 and 1400 BC. Another myth about a flood is the angry reaction of Poseidon, who flooded Attica when Athena beat him in their rivalry about the domination of Athens. The death of Hippolytus was caused by a huge wave, raised by Poseidon near Troizina.
Ancient times: After the eruption of the volcano, people returned to their normal activities. We know very little about the first inhabitants of the island. All we know is that they were Phoenicians who, around 1300 BC, were attracted by the beauty of the island. Then the Doric tribes arrived with King Thyra and they named the island Thyra.
Byzantine period: Santorini became the seat of episcopacy with Dioscouros as the bishop around 3rd century. Since the time of Justinian Santorini was in the metropolis of Rhodes. The Byzantine monument of Santorini is the chapel of Panagia of Episcopi, built by the emperor Alexios I Komninos.
Venetian domination and recent years: The Venetians arrived in Thyra (Santorini) in 1204. It was a time when the conflict between the dukes of Naxos and the dukes of Santorini begun as well as the efforts of the inhabitants to free the island. The only peaceful time for the island was the time when the duke of Naxos gave it to his daughter for dowry.
However, this did not last long because the uncle of the bride disagreed and he took it back when he was in power. When Santorini was part of the Ottoman Empire everything was peaceful. The inhabitants occupied themselves with trade and made their own naval fleet. In 1821 the naval fleet of the island took the third place in Greece.
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From Fira we take the road to Perissa and after 10 kilometers we turn left to Akrotiri. 14.5 kilometers before the beach is the entrance of the archaeological site. The excavations in the cape began in 1967 by the archaeologist Spyros Marinatos to verify the theory that the destruction of the Minoan civilization was the eruption of the volcano in Santorini. The result of the excavations was to find a Minoan city. Apart from the verification of the above theory the results from the excavations allowed the archaeologists to reach to the following conclusions:
* Before the eruption of the volcano many earthquakes took place and the inhabitants had plenty of time to abandon their houses.
* Maybe there had been a period of peace, with no earthquakes, something that must have convinced the inhabitants to return.
* The period between the earthquakes and the eruption must have been a year.
* There was a community living in Akrotiri, which was governed by a clergy class.
* Nature and fertility were objects of worship.
* Every house had a special worshiping place but there were no temples.
* The art of the inhabitants of Akrotiri had many things in common with the art of the Minoan era.
Area of excavations: it's a unique place. Most of the areas are monuments. They are something to be admired for their beauty, grandeur and technique. Akrotiri: a civilization buried in ashes.
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Santorini, a wild beauty created from a cosmogony by a volcano that lies in the middle of the bay. On top of it, in the edge of the rock is the reconciliation of the wild and the weird. :: IA :: IMEROVIGLI :: FIRA/THIRA :: FIROSTEFANI :: MESSARIA :: KAMARI :: :: PERISSA :: VLYHADA :: Santorini is the island that lies in the southern area of Cyclades. The terrain is volcanic and from the side of the volcano is rocky. The climate is cool because of the northeast winds. The winter is mild with lowest temperature of 10C. During wintertime, rain is more frequent but non-existent during summer time. The fertile ground helps the cultivation of vines and tomatoes. The island is dry with only a few springs.
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The Greek island of Santorini (officially known as Thira), as it is regarded by many as the most spectacular of all the Greek islands. Greece was my destination of choice for spring break and I wasn't disappointed. With Santorini's dazzling white and blue buildings, amazing beaches and interesting history, I was able to fulfill (most) of my wildest dreams.
Santorini's history is especially unique. Santorini is the epicenter of what was probably the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded history. Greece is known to be an earthquake zone of pretty minor eruptions, but apparently Santorini missed that memo. Here, the eruptions have been so violent through the centuries, that the shape of the island has changed several times. The last major earthquake measured a 7.8 on the Richter scale in 1956, killing large amounts of people and destorying most of the houses on Santorini and its neighboring islets. To see Santorini today is remarkable, one would never even begin to think that this island ever had any sort of turmoil. I also prefer not to think about volcanic eruptions and earthquakes while on vacation, though I DO like to speculate about the fact that Santorini supposedly made up part of the lost continent of Atlantis.
My friends and I flew from Athens into Santorini's airport, which is not much more than a strip of tarmac, but the idea of lounging around in one of the most beautiful islands of the Mediterranean was good enough for me.
We stayed in Perissa, home of the one of the best black sand beaches on the island. We could tell this from the massive number of hotels and restaurants lining the tiny beach road. However, even though there were more hotels per square foot than I'd ever seen in my life, Perissa was blissfully deserted. We arrived right before tourist season officially began (tourist season is May-Oct). I recommend coming before tourist season if you're highly allergic to hordes of people or the sun. However, the people on Santorini are extremely polite and friendly, always willing to give you a ride or offer up advice on where to eat and what to see.
Our hotel was indeed, a white building with blue trim, like most of the buildings on the island. When choosing a hotel, you don't need to use as much discretion as you would anywhere else in Europe, as even the cheapest hotels are clean and safe. We paid about 20 euros a night for our hotel, which is standard for a double room. Another option, for those who are looking for long term accomodations, is to rent a room or an apartment. Slightly more expensive, this is a good idea if you are going to be staying for more than a week.
There is more to do in Santorini besides lie on the beach (though that's nice too), such as visit the ancient city, visit the other islands of the caldera, swim in hot springs, climb the volcano, have some ouzo (Greece's national drink...careful, if you don't like licorice, this will be an interesting surprise), watch a sunset, ride some donkeys, etc...
I reccommend taking a boat tour of Santorini and its surrounding islands, the islands of Thirasia, Nea Kameni and the islet of Palia Kameni. Just bring your sea bands and dramamine if you are prone to seasickness, because no matter how many times people tell you that sailing through the Aegean is like skating over a sheet of glass, chances are, you will be sick. The tour starts off at the dormant. Santorini's volcanic history is visible everywhere, in black sand beaches, lava layered cliffs pouring into the sea, earthquake-damaged dwellings, and in the soil's fertility, but the island of Nea Kameni, the actual site of the volcano is the true gem.
There are only a few well worn paths leading to the volcano on Nea Kameni and that's it, but it offers a breathtaking view of the main island of Santorini. There are piles of lava everywhere, which offer a dazzling contrast to the blue green water and the sulfur infused soil that we walked upon. Don't expect any magma, the volcano IS dormant (I only say this because I forgot that if a volcano is dormant, there will be no molten rock), but when you get close to the center, you will feel the temperature rise.
The islet of Palia Kameni, where the Hot Springs are situated, was the next stop on our tour, and by hot springs, I mean lukewarm springs and lots of red mud and a sulfuric smell. The boats cannot dock on this island, so you will have to swim a significant length to get to the hot springs, and the water will be cold. Our guide said we would have to swim 30 meters; we had to swim 500. This is by no means an obligatory visit, but it was exciting to say that we swam in the Aegean to get to some ancient hot springs.
The island of Thirasia is perhaps the most beautiful part of Santorini with sheer cliffs overlooking the Aegean, and several whitewashed buildings against a sky that is almost impossibly blue. Only 300 people inhabit this island, and they are mostly fishermen. You will find wonderful fish kebabs in almost every restaurant for very cheap. You do have to hike for about 20 minutes (or take a donkey for 3 euros) up steep steps in order to see the true beauty of this island (and to eat some great food). Be sure to bring good walking shoes, lots of water, and sunscreen or else though you may happy, you'll end up dehydrated with calluses on you feet and a nice sunburn that will keep you warm for days.
Catch the sunset at Oia, back on the main island, for the end of your day. There are several restaurants perfectly situated for your viewing pleasure. I have rarely seen sunsets as beautiful as these, do not miss it.
If you are interested in shopping, your best bet is Fira, the capital of Santorini. Here you will find jewelery stores jammed side by side, most of them selling their jewelery at insane prices. However, everything seems to be negotiable here, so try and ask for a discount and see what they say. There are also several clothing stores, but you're going to pay a hefty price. Fira is the only place where brash commercialism seems to have taken over, but it hasn't diminished Fira's dramatic aura. Views from the edge of the caldera of the multi-colored cliffs are beautiful, and at night, the caldera's edge is a festival of lights.
If you don't have a car, you can rely on public transportation, i.e. one bus that fills up quickly, so it would be best to rent a car or a scooter if you want to see the island. Taxis are another option, and they are very cheap, so you won't have to break the bank in order to take one.
You will eat very well here. One thing I like about Greece in general, is that all of the food is very fresh, and it is always indicated on the menu whether or not something was frozen before cooked. Try the moussaka and of course, a Greek salad. For those of you who are more adventurous (or who are like me and like weird things), the octopus salad would be a good choice. Grapes thrive in Santorini's volcanic soil, and the island's wines are famous all over Greece and beyond. The Greeks also drink ouzo, which is an alcohol with a very strong licorice taste. They will usually give it to you for free along with your meal. It's an acquired taste, one I don't think I'll be acquiring or inquiring about any time soon.
Santorini has a great deal to offer, and is a wonderful place to relax and just get away from it all. Late April-early May is the time to visit, just before all the tourists get there, but it will still be warm.
There are five flights daily to and from Athens for about 80 euros one-way per person. The ferry is a cheaper bet, however, those who get incredibly seasick being on a boat for 8 hours like I do, you might want to skip this option. |
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