Santorini Island

Santorini is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and one of the most famous islands. Its unique caldera, the products, the beaches with the black sand, the beautiful sunsets are just some of the elements that make Santorini unique worldwidely.

The History of Santorini Island

Santorini is an island with rich history. It is related to the legend of the Lost Atlantis and a series of events that marked the Early Cycladic Civilization period. The myths associated with Santorini are many, while the first name of the island Stroggili (meaning round) because of the circular shape. The eruption of the volcano at the 1600 BC changed both the shape of the island, and the course of history in the Aegean Sea. The huge eruption and the tsunami created the unique caldera and it is said that destroyed the Minoan civilization of Crete.

Santorini reappeared in history when during the 7th century BC the top of Mesa Vouno chose the Spartans settlers to build their city. The island takes the name of their king Thiras and is now called Thera.

The importance of the island during the Byzantine Empire it is evident at the fact that here is a  Diocese, while during the largest part of the Middle Ages the island belongs to the Venetians and the Duchy of the Aegean. The Venetians gave the present name to the island of Santorini  from Santa Irini, the church of Agia (Saint) Irini located in Perissa.

The island bacemae part of the Greek state in 1830 and continues its successful commercial activity that had already begun in the Ottoman period. The Santorini products (mainly the wine vinsanto) travels to Russia and in the island mansions as the captains houses, and the cave houses where the crews lived are been built.

The course of Santorini's trade is interrupted by the devastating earthquake of 1956 to come back in the late '70s with the arrival of the first visitors.