Five wonderful sights you must visit in Santorini

April 15, 2013

Akrotiri

Don’t miss Akrotiri, probably the most important archaeological site in the Cyclades. The city was one of the Aegean Sea’s most significant before earthquakes and a volcanic eruption destroyed it in the 17th century BC. The volcanic material preserved the buildings and their content, just like at Pompeii.

Fira

Fira has even more designer outlets than Mykonos Town and there are a fair number of cool bar/restaurants and nightclubs here, too.

Nea Kameni

Nea Kameni island, in the middle of the flooded caldera, is one of the most violent volcanoes on the planet; it is also, of course, one of the contested sites for the lost city of Atlantis. The eruption that destroyed most of Santorini 3,600 years ago produced tsunamis that reached as far as Turkey and probably wiped out maritime Minoan civilisation. The new craters that appeared in the following centuries are currently snoozing, although they are under constant surveillance by scientists at Fira’s volcanology institute. Tour the volcano by boat, or go for a walk around the crater to see it up close.

Oia

Santorini’s star – its most attractive village, Oia, is the ultimate Greek Island village – all white houses and domed churches tumbling over the lip of the caldera. The town must be one of the most magnificent hotel settings on Earth, with its converted peasant houses on the very edge of the crater and spectacular sunsets that draw coach parties from across the island.

Santorini Volcano

The Volcano of Santorini Palea (old) Kameni and Nea (new) Kameni (an adjective that means burned in Greek) are two small islands of black lava positioned in the centre of the basin of Santorini and are, geographically, the youngest islets in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Palea Kameni is about 2000 years old while Nea Kameni’s “life” does not exceed 500 years.Caldera, as the volcano is called, is one of the main attractions of Santorini and the setting of many villages.

The Caldera offers an incredible show from the villages situated on the high cliffs, especially during the amazingly coloured sunset. Tourists can visit the volcano by taking one of the daily cruises advertised in any village. One can walk upon the solid black lava sides of the steaming volcano.Nea Kameni is the central one, and once on its shore, after a walk of 20 minutes in the “lunar” scenery, visitors will discover the volcano’s crater and other openings bursting with sulphur steam. The area also offers an incredible view of the beautiful villages hanging on the cliff

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