Santorini

Santorini of yester year | Volcanoes | Santorini today

 

Santorini today

The great destruction of Santorini many many centuries ago gives it its present-day unparalleled natural beauty, thus justifying the second name of the island Kallisti or Kallisto (the most beautiful one) that it was once known by.

Santorini today is internationally well-known and one of the best holiday destinations worldwide. In 2006 and 2007 Santorini was voted the leading European island destination and was also in the top ten island destinations in the world. An island of unequalled beauty, Santorini or Thira is famous for its Caldera, its awe-inspiring sunsets and its amazing coloured beaches.

In Fridi in Caldera the island’s cave houses are carved out of the reddish rock, meaning that the yard of one is the roof of the other, all overlooking the Aegean and the volcano. Further inland traditional Cycladic villages with white-washed houses whose roofs are made up of vaults and groin vaults, narrow streets and impressive Venetian mansions.
The reputation of the enchanting view and sunset offered by Caldera has made Santorini a meeting place for visitors from all over the world. The settlements of Fira, Imerovigli and Oia offer a unique view across to the volcanoes and the sunset.

The Black beach, one of the most famous on the island, stretches the length of the settlements of Kamari, Monolithos, Perissa and Perivolo. The Red and White beaches are located near Akrotiri, the White beach can only be reached by boat.
The volcanic formation of the Santorinian earth makes the island’s products unique.
The anhydrous tomatoes, the tomato-keftedes or pseudo-keftedes as the locals call them, the fava beans, the white eggplant, the katsounia (unripe melons) and the round courgettes all have a very special flavour. Don’t forget to try them together with a glass of locally-produced wine.

When you have had a taste of life on this island, you will agree with the words of the Greek author and poet I. M. Panagiotopoulos: “It is unbelievable how much goodness and peace is to be found in the earth of Santorini, the island moulded and governed by the wrath of demons”.