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The world famous island
of Santorini is the most southern island
of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea
and is located 63 nautical miles north of
Crete.
It is made up of five islands: Santorini
(Thira) is the main island and around it
Thirasia and Aspronisi (parts of the ancient
Strogili) and the two volcanic islands Palea
Kameni and Nea Kameni. Until about 1645
BC it was one island called Strogili (circle
in Greek), but then the middle of the island
erupted and formed a volcano now named Caldera.
Santorini is rated
5th as the most popular island world wide
and 1st in whole Greece as it has an exceptional
setting of volcano scenery surrounded by
stunning blue waters.Famous
for the whitewashed houses carved in the
rocks, the idyllic traditional small villages
and certainly the Caldera, a long cliff
remaining where the rest of the island broke
in the water due to volcano eruptions.
Santorini is quite rightly famed
for its sunsets. This causes a certain preoccupation
with watching the sun sink over the Aegean.
There appears to be a whole industry built
around it. Boats sail out into the caldera
at sunset and people are bussed in from
all over the island to Oia where it is reputed
to be the best spot to watch the sun go
down.
The marvellous dry climate
and unbroken sunshine create year around
conditions, which are perfect for observation,
photographs and videos under an extraordinary
variety of natural lights and colours.
Cliffs on the western side of the island
give way to long stretches beaches of sand
(black, red, and white) and “shingle” (small
black pebbles) on the eastern side.
There is an old myth called the Legend of
Atlantis that describes an advanced civilization
that disappeared because of a natural disaster
sometime between 1600-1400 BC. Today, many
historians and scientists think that Atlantis
was in present-day Santorini or Crete,
and that the natural disaster was actually
the eruption of Santorini volcano. Archaeologists
have found the remains of an ancient Minoan
city on Santorini that was covered with
volcanic ash.
Some scientists think that Atlantis was
actually an ancient Minoan civilization
on the nearby island of Crete. They guess
that an enormous tidal wave set off by the
Santorini eruption destroyed this
civilization. Perhaps the civilization on
Crete was the mysterious Atlantis
As for Santorini's nightlife
you will be more than pleased. You will
find many discos
and bars in Thera
(the capital) and in the rest of Santorini
island, you will also find more than 100
restaurants and cafe places. Try the local
Santorinian food and the local wine. It
will be a taste you will never forget.
At last you will find
many sightseeing in Santorini. The most
famous view in the Greek islands is from
the walkway edging Thera,
the island's main town. The panorama is
breathtaking – and so are the steps 800
or so zigzagging from the old port up the
steep cliff. Akrotiri
is a village at the south-western corner
of the island has kept much of its traditional
character and is the site of an ongoing
excavation of a Minoan city.
Santorini can be reached from most
international airports via Athens, the flying
time from Athens to Santorini is approximately
40 minutes. Numerous charter flights from
different European Cities fly directly to
the island during the summer period. From
Piraeus it is approximately 8 hours by boat.
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