The city of Oia is the snow-white fairy tale of Santorini. Excursion to Oia

So today is the second part of the trip to Santorini and today I want to show you the village of Oia or Oia, everyone calls it differently, well, continue the story about the details.

How to get there?

There are two ways to get to Santorini: by air or by sea. At the moment there are no charters from Russia.

Or you can take a ferry or catamaran that sails to the port of Athinios on Santorini. The most common and fastest option is on the catamaran FlyingCat http://www.hellenicseaways.gr/index.a sp?a_id=238 from Heraklion, a port city on Crete (schedule here: http://www.ferries.gr /hfd/). Some two hours and you are already in Santorini. It is better to buy tickets in advance on the Internet, for example, here: www.ferries.gr

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The catamaran "Megajet" goes from Crete from Rethymno two or three times a week, with excursions for one day. Eyewitnesses say that sometimes you can buy tickets for it without buying a package with a tour.

Where to swim?

Santorini, although not intended for a beach holiday, is famous for its black volcanic sand beaches. Well, the sand, of course, is not black, but rather gray. If you have never been to such beaches, then perhaps you should visit them. The most famous black sand beaches are Kamari and Perissa. The infrastructure is very similar: the beach, the road, taverns along the road, deeper souvenir shops and apartments.

Kamari Perivolos immediately follows Perissa, but it is quieter, not so busy, there are a lot of apartments and a few shops with all sorts of needs.

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You can also go to Monolithos beach. Something similar to Kamari, but not as crowded. There you can find interesting rocks along the coast.

Monolithos There are also pebbly beaches on the island. The most famous are Red Beach (Kokkini Ammos) and White Beach (Aspri Ammos). They are located near the village of Akrotiri.

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Red Beach is known for its red pebbles and red rocks all around. The red rocks up close are a truly fantastic sight. To get to the beach, you need to overcome part of the mountain along a very difficult path. Therefore, sneakers or closed sandals with grooved soles are the most comfortable shoes for this. From the Red Beach, along the path you can walk to the beach of Kampia. Access to the White Beach is only from the sea (although many sites say about the path, it is closed). Boats go there from Akrotiri very often, you could take a boat on the Red Beach. On a white beach, large gray and white pebbles plus volcanic sand. And white rocks all around.

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I learned the legend of Atlantis from Jules Verne's novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea". Then there was "The Last Man from Atlantis" by Alexander Belyaev, "The Maracot Abyss" by Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Secret of Two Oceans" by Grigory Adamov.

The film "Leaders of Atlantis", the Disney cartoon "Atlantis" remained in my memory. Atlantis (Greek Ἀτλαντίς) is a legendary island (an archipelago or even a continent) that sank to the seabed in one day as a result of an earthquake and flood, along with its inhabitants - the Atlanteans.

There is an opinion that the island of Santorini is the remnant of the lost Atlantis.

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For the first time, the myth of Atlantis is expounded by Plato in the dialogues "Timaeus" and "Critias" with reference to certain legends. Plato gives the time of the catastrophe as "9000 years ago", that is, about 9500 BC. The story of Atlantis by Plato can be considered as a myth, which was based on historical events during which, as a result of a natural disaster (earthquakes, floods or some other cataclysms), or against their background, a previously prosperous civilization perished or fell into decay. . Such a historical event may be the eruption of a volcano on the island of Santorini and the subsequent decline of the Minoan civilization in the Mediterranean.

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Whether Atlantis is some kind of myth, or is it the real story of a lost civilization, has not yet been definitely established. The inhabitants of Atlantis, allegedly, were vegetarians, did not see dreams and communicated with the help of telepathy. This myth is a source of inspiration for many writers, artists, playwrights.

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In Plato's dialogue "Timaeus", the Athenian political figure Critias recounts the story of the war between Athens and Atlantis, allegedly from the words of his grandfather Critias the Elder, who, in turn, told him the story of Solon, heard by the latter from the priests in Egypt.

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The meaning of the story is this: once, 9 thousand years ago, Athens was the most glorious, powerful and virtuous state. Their main rival was the aforementioned Atlantis. "This island was larger than Libya and Asia combined." A “kingdom, amazing in size and power”, owned all of Libya to Egypt and Europe to Tirrenia (western Italy), arose on it. All the forces of this kingdom were thrown into the enslavement of Athens. After that, however, a grandiose natural disaster occurred, as a result of which the entire Athenian army perished in one day, and Atlantis sank to the bottom of the sea.

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The ancestor of the Atlanteans, according to Plato, was the god Poseidon, who met with the mortal girl Kleito, who gave birth to ten divine sons from him (led by the eldest - Atlant), between whom he divided the island, and who became the ancestors of his royal families.

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Poseidon for protection surrounded the island with three water and two land rings; the Atlanteans, on the other hand, threw bridges over these rings and dug channels, so that ships could sail along them to the city itself, or, more precisely, to the central island, which had 5 stadia (slightly less than a kilometer) in diameter. The island was dominated by temples lined with silver and gold and surrounded by golden statues, a luxurious royal palace, and shipyards filled with ships.

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Where Atlantis was located, and where to look for what is left of it, they still argue. Atlantis is sought in the Atlantic near Morocco, in the Andes, in Brazil, in Ireland, in Romania, and even in Antarctica. Plato places Atlantis directly beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, not far from the coast of Spain and present-day Morocco. Morocco among the Greeks, as a country in the extreme West, is the seat of the titan Atlanta (Atlas), to whose name the name of the ocean and the Atlas ridge ascend. Undoubtedly, the name of Atlantis - "the country of Atlanta" also goes back to it.

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Many researchers were looking for Atlantis in the area of the Balearic and Canary Islands. Vyacheslav Kudryavtsev put forward the version that Atlantis was located on the site of the current British Isles and Ireland, and drowned as a result of melting glaciers.

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The explorer Robert Sarmast discovered a rectangular earth mass under water 11 km from Cyprus, extending to the northeast towards Syria. He claims that it was the island of Cyprus that was the top of the hill, part of Atlantis.

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The main criteria for choosing a hotel in Santorini. The best Santorini hotels with beach access and volcano views.

How to choose a hotel in Santorini (Greece)?

Deciding which hotel to choose in Santorini is not easy, but very important. In this article, I have collected selection criteria for you, based on which you can easily decide on the choice of a hotel.

If you do not know much about Santorini, I must tell you that the most beautiful here is the view of the volcano and local sunsets. No matter how beautiful the islands of Greece are, none of them has such a strong passion for meeting sunsets. In Santorini, this is something like a nightly ritual.

Volcano or beaches?

This is the first decision to be made.

Do you want to stay in towns along the mountainside with great views of the volcano?

The western part of Santorini and the famous view of the volcano. Here are the main cities of Santorini - Fira, Oia, Imerovigli and Firostefani.

Or do you want to stay in one of the coastal towns on the opposite side of the island? It is also beautiful here, close to the beaches, but there is no view of the volcano and the caldera.

On the one hand, a mountain with a beautiful view, on the other - a lowland and beaches. The distance between parts of the island is small - 10 -15 minutes by car.

The eastern part, where the main hotels of Santorini are located with access to the sea.

If you have chosen the eastern part with beaches, then it is easier to decide here. There are only 2 major cities: Kamari and Perissa (Perivolos beach is a continuation of Perissa). Kamari is a more developed town with more shops, bars, hotels and restaurants. Perissa has better beaches. I recommend choosing Kamari due to better infrastructure and closer to Fira from here. There is a boat between Kamari and Perissa, so you can easily visit both cities in a day.

Which city to choose from the side of the volcano?

Most tourists stop on the side of the caldera. And I think this choice is correct. The volcano is what makes Santorini a very special island in Greece. For a beach holiday, it is better to go to other islands.

If you are going to stay in the western part, then you are faced with another difficult choice - in which city to stay. The problem is that they are all good in their own way.

There are 4 main cities along the caldera: Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia. Each of them offers a breathtaking view of the volcano, but the most beautiful in Imerovigli.

Fira has the most restaurants and an active nightlife.
Firostefani is quiet and you can get to Fira on foot.
Imerovigli is very calm here. Fira and Oia can be easily reached by bus or taxi. 6 great restaurants.
Oia is the most romantic city of Santorini, there are many restaurants, but there are practically no night parties.

Fira

View from Fira to the volcano

The largest city on the island is the center of cultural life. There are most of all restaurants and shops, cheerful night life. Fira offers amazing views of the volcano, but the sunsets are a little spoiled by the islet of Thirassia. In Fira is the terminus of all buses. In other cities, buses run only to Fira and back. Therefore, if you need, for example, to get from Kamari to Oya, you will have to change in Fira.

If you come to explore the nightlife of the island and love clubs, then you will spend the most time in Fira. If your hotel is located close to the city center, then your sleep may be disturbed by street noise. It's much quieter along the caldera and you won't be disturbed by loud music in the middle of the night.

Top hotels in Fira

Aria Suites - large pool and good location.

More hotels in Fira

Cosmopolitan Suites
Aigialos Traditional Houses
Anteliz Suites

Firostefani

Firostefani is a 15 minute walk from Fira. It is difficult to say where Fira ends and Firostefani begins. Many spend the day in Fira and return to Firostefani in the evening. There are no nightclubs and bars here, but it is quiet and there are good restaurants.

Top hotels in Firostefani

Tsitouras Collection
The Belvedere
Homeric Poems
Mill House Elegant Suites
Dana Villas

Imerovigli

The most beautiful views of the caldera open from Imerovigli, because this city is located above all others in Santorini. Imerovigli is the quietest city on the list, there are no nightclubs here. Despite the fact that the city is small, there are enough good restaurants, shops and markets. Fira can be reached in 20 minutes. Buses run every 30-45 minutes south to Fira and north to Oia.

Best hotels of Imerovigli

Astra Suites - stunning views, nice pool, each room has its own kitchen.

More hotels in Imerovigli

Chromata Hotel
Absolute Bliss
Aenaon Villas
Aqua Luxury Suites
Grace Santorini

Oya

The most romantic and charming city in Santorini. It is full of beautiful alleys and crossroads inviting you to explore its nooks and crannies. Every night people gather on the walls, steps and rooftops to enjoy the sunset. People have fun, drink wine and enjoy the views. During sunsets, there are always a lot of people on the streets, but without crowds and crushes. The restaurants in Oia are some of the best on the island. There are many bars where you can drink and sit, but for dancing you have to go to Fira. The walk from Oia to Fira will take 2 hours, I strongly advise you to take a walk, it is a very beautiful path.

Best hotels in Oia

Katikies Hotel - nothing to complain about, love this hotel very much. Read reviews.

More Oia hotels

Mystique
Oia Castle Hotel
Ikies – Traditional Houses
Canaves Oia Hotel
Perivolas

a couple more important points about hotels in Santorini

beach hotels

Kastelli Resort - the best hotel in Santorini with a beach

Hotels on the beaches are worse than hotels on the side of the caldera. Kastelli is the best of them. There are large rooms and 4 pools of different sizes. Beaches and restaurants are 2 minutes walk from the hotel.

Cheap hotels in Santorini

In Santorini you get exactly what you paid for. I mean, there are no overpriced hotels out of nowhere here. The best Santorini hotels have beautiful views, swimming pools and good service. Therefore, if you want to save on accommodation, you will need to give up something.

Below is a list of hotels more loyal in price.

In Fira Keti Hotel and Kamares Apartments. Both offer beautiful views.

Useful information for tourists about Oia (Santorini) in Greece - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

The city of Oia is located in the northern part of the island of Santorini (Thira) on the edge of a huge caldera, which was formed after the infamous destructive eruption of the Santorini volcano, which occurred around the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. The city is located at an altitude of 70-100 m above sea level. This is perhaps one of the most romantic and colorful cities in Greece. Every year Oia attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world.

Oia received its modern name already in the second half of the 19th century (earlier the city was known as Agios Nicholas Kastell and Apanomeria). The peak of Ii's heyday came at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. Economic prosperity was based on the presence of its own fleet and strong trade ties throughout the Mediterranean. At the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of wars and the Great Depression, the economy of Ii began to decline.

In 1956, as a result of a strong earthquake, a significant part of the city was destroyed, and only a few decades later, Oia was reborn as one of the most popular resorts in the Cyclades archipelago.

At the highest point of the city of Oia lie the ruins of a once majestic Venetian fortress. Today this place is especially popular among tourists, as it is a magnificent observation deck with a 360-degree viewing angle. Every evening, many visitors to the city gather here to enjoy the stunning beauty of the sunset, which Oia is so famous for.

Among the attractions of Oia, it is worth noting the entertaining Maritime Museum, whose collection perfectly illustrates the maritime traditions of the island, the Museum of Musical Instruments and several small art galleries. Also interesting are the so-called "captains' houses" in the neoclassical style, dating from the end of the 19th century and the Old Mill - one of the most recognizable buildings in Oia.

Especially popular are one-day excursions to the charming island of Thirassia (Terassia), as well as to the islands of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, formed as a result of an underwater volcanic eruption.

Today Oia is a popular tourist center with a well-developed infrastructure. It is a picturesque town with narrow cobbled streets and numerous staircases, charming white houses with blue shutters and doors traditional for the Cycladic archipelago, numerous snow-white churches with blue domes and an incredibly relaxing atmosphere. Here you will find all the necessary services and a lot of cozy restaurants and taverns where you can relax and taste the traditional local cuisine. This city seems to be created for long walks and is perfect for lovers of a quiet dimensional rest, and magnificent panoramic views of the island and the giant caldera will leave a lot of unforgettable impressions.

Oia (aka Oya and Oya) is the hallmark of the island. It is the photo of the city of Oia on Santorini and its famous sunsets that beckon you to Greece from postcards and advertisements. Although it’s more likely not even a city, but a village: the language does not dare to call a city a settlement where less than two thousand people live. Yes, Iya is small. But incredibly beautiful. Let's take a walk along it with a camera and select the most beautiful photos of the city of Oia in Santorini, for which thousands of tourists come here!

Why Oia is the most elite village in Greece

Before showing you our best photos of the city of Oia in Santorini, just a few words about this locality. As already mentioned, in terms of size, Oya is more of a village than a city; from one and a half to two thousand people live here. Exactly Oia is considered the place where the most beautiful sunsets in Santorini. Therefore, in the evenings, thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to admire the setting sun against the backdrop of the Caldera of the volcano and the surrounding islands.

One of the attractions of Oia is the ruins of an ancient Venetian fortress. Finding it is very simple: as the sun begins to set, follow the crowd of tourists, hung with tripods and cameras. It is from the fortress that a stunning view of the sunset opens, so in the evenings there is nowhere for a Chinese apple to fall.

Another attraction that adorns many photos of the city of Oia in Santorini is the windmill on top of the mountain. And of course, the beautiful Oya is famous for its multi-colored (primarily white and blue) houses, many of which are built on the slopes of the mountain and have turned into luxury hotels, where accommodation costs hundreds of euros per night. Here are the most beautiful of them:

It is thanks to the stunning views of the sunsets and the Caldera, which opens from many hotels, that Oia is considered the most elite village (or even the whole one). Let's take a walk along the streets of the elite village, look into its elite jacuzzis and enjoy the view of the elite sunset!

P.S.: we are also not bad at all - to take these photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, we did not go there on foot, but used the services of elite transport for wealthy tourists. What are you, what kind of helicopter. After we climbed to Oia from the embankment on donkeys. We will start our photo gallery with them.

Photo of the city of Oia on Santorini: streets and sunsets, donkeys and cats

For many residents of Oia, donkeys have been and remain the main source of income.

classic photo of Oia town in Santorini during sunset. It is this picture that adorns postcards with views not only of the island, but of all of Greece.

A this photo of Oia in Santorini was taken from the sea when we sailed up to the island after an excursion to the crater of the volcano.

The churches of Santorini with a round blue dome are one of the hallmarks of Greece. They adorn many photos of the city of Oia in Santorini.

And here is the same church, but from afar and against the backdrop of a good half of the "city" of Oia. In the background is another elite village, Imerovigli.

As you know, the most famous photos of the city of Oia on Santorini are those where the church flaunts against the backdrop of the volcano caldera.

The same church, only overlooking the opposite bank.

Santorini is not just a very romantic island: newlyweds from all over the world come here on their honeymoon trip.

A honeymoon in Santorini is a very expensive pleasure. A night in this Oia hotel with a jacuzzi and a view of the Caldera will cost several hundred (or even thousands) euros.

Not only small churches serve as decoration for the photo of the city of Oia in Santorini. The local streets are also very picturesque and dotted with small bright houses, many of which serve as restaurants and souvenir shops.

And this is how all these hotels, cafes and churches look from the sea, going down the steps to the water along the slope of the cliff.

Everything is the same, from the inside: this photo of Oya was taken from one of her streets.

Photo of the city of Oia on Santorini: every house, every wall and every window is full of small but nice details.

In the evenings, Oia fills up with tourists who flock here from all over the island specifically to take pictures of a unique natural phenomenon - themselves.

And the poor travelers, who did not have enough money for a selfie stick, gather with their DSLRs and tripods on the ruins of the Venetian fortress.

The Venetian fortress is considered the most convenient of the places where it is best to watch the sunset in the village of Oia on Santorini - it is from here that you get the most beautiful photos in the rays of the setting sun.

For example, from a Venetian fortress, you can take such a wonderful photo of the city of Oia on Santorini in the rays of sunset. For the sake of this, it is worth standing in a traffic jam of thousands of tourists!

Yes, we did not steal these pictures from the Internet, we were here! Yes, it is really as cool as in the picture. No, I won't tell you what's in my backpack.

The wall on Santorini can be either red or yellow. But the gates are definitely blue.

In many photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, local houses with sloping roofs and blue shutters are adjacent to the ubiquitous souvenir shops:

The inscription on the wall says that you can rent a cat here, but we did not use this service, check prices on the spot.

As in all of Greece, there are many street cats in Oia. Satisfied with life and with all their appearance demonstrating how indifferent they are to all this tourist flea market.

These were the 20 best photos of the city of Oia in Santorini that we managed to take during a trip to this amazing place. And that is not all! In our other articles you will find even more beautiful shots:

And of course, very beautiful photos of the city of Oia on Santorini, as well as the Caldera and sunsets, are obtained from its hotels. We have a selection of good accommodation options in Oia in different price ranges that you can book on Booking.com.

Did you fly over the city? Now let's find out more about this island...
Over the centuries, the islanders have given their homeland various names. It has been named Strongila (round), Callisto (beautiful), Philotera and Santorini. In the 20th century, many people associate their turbulent past with the tragic fate of the legendary continent of Atlantis. Scientists, geologists and archaeologists have viewed the island with wonder and interest, and they are trying to piece together the entire centuries-old history of the island, based on the information that is available to them.

Let's see how the tragic history of the island proceeded. Mythology tells us that Santorini was created from a piece of land from Libya. History is complemented by geological and archaeological discoveries that allow us to explore a series of devastating facts related to the creation and evolution of this amazing island of Santorini, which the French geologist F. Fouquet called the Pompeii of the Aegean. But in order for us to explore the centuries-old formation of the island of Santorini, we must first try to imagine the appearance of the land of Greece hundreds of millions of years ago.

In the beginning, the Greek land was covered with water. Gradually, and after huge upheavals in the bowels of the planet, landmasses rose above the water about 30,000,000 years ago and formed the Aegean continent. It was a single territory stretching from the Ionian Sea to Asia Minor and to the southern coast of Crete. The geological shifts of the earth's crust continued and, over time, the sea penetrated deep into the Aegean mainland, breaking them into pieces. Some of them are those that today protrude from the Aegean Sea, which are just the mountain peaks of the original Aegean mainland.

The island owes its appearance to seismic movements, it was formed in the Tertiary period when geological movements led to the destruction of the Aegean continent. Subsequent volcanic eruptions gave it a round shape, which determined its name Strongyli - round. By the beginning of the second millennium BC, an amazing civilization had formed on the island, which was in many ways similar to the Minoan Crete. At the end of 1500 (1450) BC. the volcanic eruption destroyed the central part of Strongyli and buried the island civilization. At the same time, giant waves turned many cities of Crete into ruins.

In fact, Santorini is the largest active marine volcano in the world. Periodically, over the course of several millennia, the volcano actively attacked land and sea. And as a result, the modern crescent-shaped archipelago of Santorini are the remnants of a once unified whole - a round, conical island, with an active volcano in the middle.

The volcano has been activated many times. Eruptions occurred in the III and II centuries BC. An eruption in 236 BC separated Thirassia from the northwestern edge of Thira, while Old Kammeni (Old Bernd) emerged in 196 BC. A terrible volcanic eruption sank half of Palia Kameni in 1452. The southern coast of Santorini went under water in 1570. Three years later Malaya Kammeni appeared. The volcano constantly reminded of its existence: its underwater eruption with poisonous gases, which occurred around 1700 AD in Columbos, in the northeast of Oia, resulted in the death of thousands of people and animals. During 1711-12. The new Kammeni appeared above the water. In 1866, a series of eruptions lasting two years led to the appearance of the islet of Afotessa, which then disappeared again.

The eruption that occurred in 1920, during the formation of New Kammeni, did not cause any casualties. The eruption of 1925-26, which connected Malaya and Novaya Kammeni, did not cause major damage. The volcano last woke up in 1956, causing a strong earthquake and tidal waves 17 meters high. 50 people died on the island. This earthquake destroyed most of Santorini's houses and many residents were forced to leave the island, leaving only about 400 people on the island.

According to Greek mythology, Santorini is a lump of earth given to the Argonauts by the sea god Triton, the son of Neptune and Venus. Kallisti is the name given to this island by the Argonauts.

The oldest population of the island, which appeared here around 3000 BC, was pre-Greek. The presence of the influence of Minoan Crete was established during excavations at Akrotiri, when a whole settlement appeared from under a powerful layer of volcanic ash with two- and three-story houses decorated with frescoes that resemble wall paintings of Minoan palaces. In 1967, Greek archaeologists discovered a pumice tunnel at Akrotiri, a 16th century BC Minoan and Bronze Age city of 30,000 inhabitants. No skeletons, jewels or gold have been found at Akrotiri, indicating that the inhabitants of the city were aware of the impending catastrophe, possibly from earth tremors. At the time of the existence of this settlement, the island must have been called Callista (most beautiful) or Strongila (Round) because of its shape, since the volcano had not yet begun its destructive activity. 35 centuries ago in 1500 (1450) BC. an event took place that decisively influenced the history of the ancient world. We are talking about a terrible volcanic eruption, which was located in the center of the island, as a result of which most of the island plunged into the sea.

The tsunami waves caused by the eruption, whose height reached presumably 100 meters, hit the northern coast of Crete and destroyed the Palace of Knossos. This natural disaster may have led to the end of the Minoan civilization - one of the most ancient and highly developed in Europe. The catastrophe was completed by strong earthquakes and volcanic ash thrown over considerable distances. From the ancient Strongyla, only the currently visible crescent with a sheer cliff more than 300 meters high in the western part and gentle beaches in the eastern part remained.

The Minoan civilization that existed in Crete and Tyre before the great volcanic eruption suddenly disappeared around 1600 BC. This phenomenon was considered as the result of the invasion of the Greek tribes on the island. However, the volcanic eruption on Thira, which occurred during the same period, led Marinatos to assume that a large eruption not only destroyed Thira, but also provoked a huge tsunami that wiped out the Minoan civilization of Crete.

Plato refers the island to an ancient civilization that disappeared due to a sudden natural disaster. Historians of different times were interested in the myth, who defined the former location of Atlantis in different ways: in Antilles, America, on a number of islands of Gibraltar, in Malta. Some even considered Atlantis a figment of Plato's imagination. In recent years, scientists have come to the conclusion that the most likely location of the former Atlantis is Greece, and Santorini is this legendary continent of Atlantis, a happy corner described in ancient Greek texts several thousand years ago, in the works of such ancient Greek writers as Solon and Plato.

In fact, the current Santorini is the fragments of an exploding volcano, covered with solidified lava. An unusual fate has made it one of the most beautiful and mysterious islands of the Aegean. Jacques-Yves Cousteau also put forward the version that Santorini is the remnants of Atlantis that has gone under water. This bold statement is based on his painstaking research and on Plato's descriptions: "But later, when the time came for unprecedented earthquakes and floods, in one terrible day Atlantis disappeared, plunging into the abyss."

After a large eruption that destroyed the civilization that existed on Santorini, the island was uninhabited for a long time. After this break, it was first settled by the Phoenicians around 1000 BC. In the XI century BC. e. Dorians (Spartans) appeared here and founded the ancient Thera high in the northern part of the island.

On the ruins of ancient Tyra, during excavations carried out by German archaeologists in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, graves and inscriptions were found indicating that the capital of a Doric colony was located here, starting from the 9th century BC. Ptolemy established a main garrison here to watch over the archipelago and made Santorini a naval base in the Aegean.

In the 8th century BC, the Theban hero Tiras left Sparta, where he was the ruler, and settled in Santorini with a group of nobles. Subsequently, the island was named Thera in his honor. Herodotus wrote that at that time there were seven cities in Santorini, which were ruled by the monarch Grinnas, who, on the advice of the Delphic oracle, sent an expedition to Cyrin in Africa, where many Tyrians settled. During the war with the Persians, the Tyrians were on the side of the conquerors and in 476 BC refused an alliance with Athens, because they considered themselves Dorians. However, some time later, Santorin nevertheless became part of the Athenian state and was forced to pay 5 talents (an ancient Greek monetary unit) as a tribute. The Tyrians, dissatisfied with the rule of the Athenians, again submitted to Sparta and gained independence only under the Treaty of Antalkid. However, their independence was not fully recognized by the Spartans.

HISTORY I - X centuries. Very little is known about the life of the island during the period of Roman domination. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395, Santorini became part of the Eastern Roman Empire.

In the 4th century AD, Christianity began to invade the island, as evidenced by written documents found in the old Basilica of St. Michael in ancient Tyre.

HISTORY XI - XVII centuries. The island was first named Santorini by the Arab geographer Edis, who traveled through the Cyclades in 1153. The island got its name from the local church of Santa Irina (Santa Irina). Foreign navigators called it first Santo, then Santa Irina, which later turned into one word Santorini.

Santorini came under the influence of Venice during the period of Byzantine domination, which ended in 1204. Santorini and 17 other islands were redistributed to the Dukes of Naxos in 1207. In 1269, Santorini was again captured by the Byzantine Greeks, but in 1296 the Venetians again regained the island.

In 1400 - 1500 the inhabitants of the island suffered from constant attacks by sea pirates, as a result of which the population of the island was reduced to 300 people. Fear of pirates was the reason for choosing places for settlements far from the coast, on steep cliffs or in valleys. The Catholics, after their arrival on the island, had a great influence on the inhabitants and founded educational institutions, which contributed to the prosperity of the island.

In 1537, the Muslim pirate Barbarossa, with the help of the Turkish Sultan, attacked the Cyclades and handed over Santorini to the Turks.

HISTORY of the 18th – 21st centuries During the period of Turkish rule, the island of Santorini had the largest merchant fleet in the Aegean, and all of it (280 sailing ships) belonged to the population of the village of Oia!

The island, along with the rest of Greece, gained independence in 1821. Captain Evangelos Matzarakis raised the flag of freedom over the island on May 5 this year. After the Greek War for the independence of Greece from Turkish rule, in 1864 the Greek Constitution was signed.

In the XVIII - XIX centuries. The main area of commercial activity in Santorini was winemaking. Also of great commercial importance was the merchant fleet. Prosperous captains, shipping company owners, and international merchants built mansions atop the cliffs, inspired by their travels in other countries. The construction of such houses in the 18th and 19th centuries was financed by shipping and exporting the famous wine from the island of Santorini to Russia, Russian wheat to France, as well as valuable products from France to the Mediterranean and Greece. Although not as popular abroad as the wines of Santorin, tomatoes are a unique product because they grown on rich volcanic soil that does not know rain, where moisture is formed only in the form of night dew or morning mist. They are served fresh, sun-dried or traditionally deep fried. Despite their small size, they have a strong taste.

In 1864, Capetanospito, the mansion of the sea captain, was built on Santorini in the city of Oia. Built on a triangular marble slab, set on a red stone facade, the memorable date and the initials of the owner “S.P.A.” are engraved. This is one of eight houses officially built right on the banks of the Caldera and are examples of traditional architecture, protected by the state. This is how the famous architect Dimitris Philippides writes about this building in his book “Three Centuries of Greek Architecture: Composition and Decor” - “The black volcanic stone that adorns the sea captain’s mansion, combined with white marble slabs, forms the skeleton for the next tier. They are contrasted by a simple plastering on the walls of the balcony and on the lower tiers. This style of decor, brought from Western Europe, seems to have its roots in the Renaissance and is found nowhere else in Greece.” After the owner of the mansion gave it to his daughter for the wedding as a dowry. Later, the inscription on the marble slab was somewhat changed to "S.P.A.F." The "F" was added by another owner. If in Egypt the new ruler could without hesitation erase the initials and hieroglyphs of the previous monarch, who was most often his father, here the previous owner and his family are highly respected and honored.

Often sea captains owned several types of property: a ship, a mansion in Oia, and a vineyard in Phoenicia. The ship was always ready for departure. The mansion in Oya was the gathering place for the whole family, receiving guests, the marine crew and new employees, on the return of the captain from a long journey. For the manufacture and storage of wine, the captain built special wine cellars in Phenicia - "ditches". A reduced version of the "ditch" was built in the captain's mansion for the convenience of storing wine and prestige. The sea, wine, trade, tomatoes and the volcano are the main attractions of Oia and have continued to be so for many years. Entering Capetanospito, a sea captain's mansion built in 1864, you will feel the atmosphere of the past and the simple values of that time.

In the middle of the XIX century, the pearl of Santorini - Oia was one of the largest cities of the Cyclades, the population of the city was about 10,000 people. The main industry was the navy. The beginning of the decline of this field of activity coincided with the decline in shipping. Many of the inhabitants of the island moved to Piraeus or abroad, including to Russia.

I could not find any information about the island for the first half of the 20th century, with the exception of reports of volcanic activity on the island in the 20s and reports of the occupation of Santorini during the Second World War by Italians and Germans, the occupation continued until October 18, 1944. I True, there was also a message that contradicted the previous one, that when during the Second World War all of Greece was under the rule of the Nazis, Santorini remained free. True, Admiral Canaris once brought his submarines to the island, but on the same night the awakened volcano splashed fire at them without hitting the island. The death of the submarines was attributed to the action of a new formidable weapon of the Russians ... Which of them can be trusted, I don’t know, so I placed both. If anyone has information about the island of Santorini for this and other periods of time, send it, I will post it.

The 1956 earthquake caused death and destruction, many residents left the island. and only a few years later the inhabitants began to return to the island again. At that time, the indigenous population of the island was about 400 people. During the 60s, the dilapidated buildings of the island were sold for a meager price to Greeks and foreigners who were able to realize their value.

PRESENT. 30-40 years ago, such tourist areas as Kamari and Ammoudi were founded - the area to which new highways lead. Over the past 20 years, there have been noticeable changes: the number of tourists has increased dramatically, many bars and taverns have appeared and a huge number of tourist boutiques, the very first of which was opened in 1983. Tourism mainly unfolds in the summer. Former island residents or their children are returning to the island to rent out their homes to tourists, and local tourism professionals are competing with their counterparts in Athens and Piraeus. Prices for dilapidated buildings and for repair work have risen enormously. The official price of real estate in Oia is the highest in Greece (more than 3,500 euros per 1 sq. m), but despite this, the number of restored buildings is still increasing. Demand for housing still exceeds supply.

ARCHITECTURE. The main city of Fira stands out for its architectural style even against the background of other Cycladic islands. There are more buildings with vaulted ceilings and domes than anywhere else. Imagine: the dazzling whiteness of the houses, broken only by the blue domes of the monasteries. One of the churches - Agiou Mina - was built on the very edge of the cliff. Far outside the country, it is she who serves as an advertising, always recognizable, symbol of the island of Santorini. The settlement itself is located like an amphitheater on the slopes of rocky hills. Tourists always get high from living in traditional Cycladic houses. You are sitting at a table on the terrace and slowly sipping wine, watching the sunset from above!

The architecture of Santorini refers to the architecture of the Aegean. Traditional white Cycladic houses, blue domes of churches, windmills against the backdrop of the blue sea look simply breathtaking. The topographic feature of the island leaves its mark on the architecture - many buildings are literally dug into the volcanic rock on the slope. All this makes the island one of the most romantic and beautiful places! Well, at least for me)) The hallmark of the island are (in addition to white houses) doors leading “to nowhere”, church bells against the sky, windmills and magnificent sunsets in the city of Oia. Photos from this island are easy to recognize even without a caption. In general, it is difficult for me to imagine a person who would remain indifferent to Santorini. Santorini is a wonderful place that definitely deserves your attention!

On the edge of the cliff (on the Western side of the island) several settlements developed, including Thira, the capital of the island. The steep slopes are a unique section of the earth, where with the naked eye one can distinguish volcanic layers that differ from each other in color. The eastern part of the island is flat and level, with very fertile land. Also on Santorini there are beaches with black volcanic sand.

Santorini is famous for its very tasty products of exceptional quality. The wine made from grapes grown on the island is especially praised. The professions of almost all the inhabitants of the island are related to tourism, and the white houses on the cliff are either hotels or restaurants. Our friend Thomas (the owner of a tavern in Crete) said that the Cretans themselves do not really like Santorini. They complain that the prices are too high and that almost the entire “local” population of the island is made up of Albanians who have come there to engage in tourism business. Prices in Santorini are indeed higher than in Crete. At least a meal in a tavern turned out to be twice as expensive. The island has one of the most expensive lands in Europe and also has the most expensive hotels. Room prices in Santorini depend on the view from the window. Hotels on the first line and with a view of the volcano are considered more expensive than others.

Accordingly, all seats on balconies, in restaurants and in pavilions are oriented towards the volcano. Local entertainment for tourists is to sit, relax and contemplate the beauty of the blue sea and passing ships ...

In the north-west of the island, the picturesque place of Oia is located, contesting the honor of being called the most beautiful place of the island from the capital Fira. Some residents do not agree with this point of view, considering Oia the most beautiful village in all of Greece. So, for example, in 1981, Eeyore received the first prize at the European competition of villages with the best traditional architecture held in Italy! In the dialect of Homeric times, the word Oya then meant "remote", "isolated".

Countless ruins of castles from the 14th-15th centuries and the fortifications of the island's settlements testify to the attacks of sea pirates. Italian names such as "Santa Irina" are reminiscent of Venice's dominance over the island. However, walking along the marble and volcanic paths of Oia, you will also find evidence of the life of a later period.

Unique, cave-like white buildings, carved into the cliffs that arose from volcanic pumice and in the rocks, are the dwellings of local sailors. Main characteristics of buildings

Le Corbusière, who visited Santorin in 1920 on the occasion of the CIAM conference, noted the outward solidity of the island's structures. The main features of the buildings of Santorini and neighboring islands are thick blank brick walls with small gaps, white plaster covering almost the entire building, and a repetitive rhythm of construction.

These features influenced the emergence of a certain type of urban structures, the formation of which also proceeded under the influence of the climatic features of the island and thanks to the ability of the natives to use natural resources. With the help of these buildings, you can study the evolution of the local society.

body of this architectural style, dictating its own rules to the builders. Factors such as climate, earthquakes, natural resources and topography were fully appreciated by the settlers and determined the nature of the construction.

The centuries-old tradition determined the features of buildings from the frame to the decor and left almost no ground for experiments or deviations from accepted norms. The introduction of neoclassical elements into architecture at the end of the 19th century seemed to be a very bold act. This was done by wealthy navigators who could afford to demonstrate that they, too, were able to follow the architectural trend that dominated Europe at that time.

A specific ergonomic scale is also evident, the indicators of which are similar to those obtained in the study of shipbuilding: low doors, narrow, steep stairs, tight passages. These features were the result of necessity rather than choice, as economy was the main rule of construction. A number of additional characteristics distinguish the architecture of Santorini from the architecture of neighboring islands: multi-tiered buildings, partially submerged in the ground, with a barrel vault.

Buildings partly buried in the ground Hard, sloping ground, combined with the need to save material, influenced the nature of the construction. Vaulted depressions that arose in the upper layer of volcanic lava were used as dwellings, stalls, and wineries. The brick walls of the facade of buildings were sometimes used as a base for a veranda or an external extension. Deep depressions were usually divided into 2-3 rooms with partitions acting as a facade. As a rule, light and air entered the dwelling only through the facade doors, which created a lack of lighting and ventilation. These factors serve as fertile ground for increased moisture condensation and promote the formation of mold. One of the main advantages of structures, along with the simplicity of design, is their thermal security. Due to the strong heat of the soil, temperature fluctuations inside the building during different seasons are reduced, and heat contributes to this to a greater extent than brick walls. In this way, a satisfactory temperature level is achieved both in summer and winter, which practically eliminates the need for additional heating, which is used rather to reduce humidity.

Such cave-like structures are practically protected from earthquakes. During recent excavations, several rooms were found in their original form, littered with the ruins of the facade.

Staggered layout The strong slope of the soil required the development of a stepped layout of urban structures. In most cases, the roof of one building is the veranda of the next, and sometimes even part of the city street. Thus, the accepted principle of three-dimensionality was observed. The construction of buildings and sewers required the active cooperation of the townspeople. Such a layout necessitated the construction of a huge number of stairs of all types and sizes, and also, of course, required strong legs and a healthy heart.

Vaults Restaurant 1800 in Oia: The main building material is red or black lava stone, which is used with or without lime mortar and covered with plaster. Teran soil, in its properties very close to cement, has been widely used in construction since ancient times. The lime mortar, the component of which was powder from the Tyrannian soil, was cheap, easily obtained and unusually durable. The use of building timber was a rare and costly luxury. Therefore, the main covering of both large and small buildings were surprisingly thin vaulted roofs connecting the side walls, which were much thicker, since they had to withstand the pressure of the vault. Doors and windows, as a rule, were made on the back walls, which did not create a significant load.

Construction The main problem of construction continues to be the movement of building materials over cliffs and steps with the help of the only means of transport - donkeys and mules. The presence of this circumstance explains such ridiculous phenomena as large fragments of rocks left on the verandas, or dilapidated walls that have merged with structures of a later period. On the walls of cave-type buildings one can sometimes see a protruding piece of rock, left in its original form, so as not to disturb the natural strength of the soil, or in order to facilitate transportation.

The southernmost island of the Cyclades in the Aegean. The Santorini archipelago is a group of five islands:

The main island is Thira (75.8 sq. km, coastline - 70 km, population about 8000 inhabitants;
Terasia (Thirassia) 9.3 sq. km, about 250 inhabitants;
Aspronisi 0.1 sq. km, not inhabited;
Old Kameni (Palea Kameni) 0.5 sq. km, 1 inhabitant;
New Kameni (Nea Kameni) 3.4 sq. km, not inhabited.

Sunny summers and warm winters are ideal climatic conditions for tourism. Santorini has a long hot season and a short rainy season. The rainy seasons usually take place in November and February. Humidity is relatively high (in fact, it is the main source of water for vegetation). Temperature fluctuations are negligible throughout the year, and snow is rare. Temperature on Santorini island: in spring 17°C - 22°C, in summer 22°C - 40°C, in autumn 25°C - 17°C, in winter 17°C - 7°C. Fairly strong winds tend to come from the north (primarily the Meltemi wind in August), but southerly winds can sometimes be very harsh as well.

And now for travel tips:

Do not book tours

Sightseeing tours are varied: viewing volcanoes, a trip to hot springs, various cruises. But the reality is disappointing: the springs are not hot, the picturesque volcano from a distance is dull and faded near. It is impossible to see all the beauties of the island in one tour, it is better to rent a transport and take a free ride on your own.

You can drive over the tiny beaches that stretch beyond the port of Amoudi, in the vicinity of Oia, spread out under a rock. It is interesting to climb the mountain separating Perissa and Camiri to a small church. Make a trip to the village of Emporio nestled against the side of the mountain. Take a walk along its narrow streets, look at old houses, dilapidated windmills. Check out the deserted beaches near the airport. Experience hours of privacy on a scooter without any restrictions.

Don't count on midnight entertainment

Santorini can not be called the center of nightlife. There are several clubs in Kamari and Fira, and beach parties are also held. But there are no crowded parties here. Time seems to have stopped on the island, and this calm solitude is its advantage, unlike noisy Mykonos or Ios.

In calm silence, you can spend time on the sandy black beach of the village of Perissa, in the cool shade by the pool, drinking strawberry colada at the Soul Bar. Connoisseurs of live music will love the Yazz cafe on the beach, and you can dance at the Beach Bar at night.

Go beyond walking in Oia and Fira

The landscapes of the villages of Oia and Fira deserve attention. The blue-white houses in the sprouts of flowering bougainvillea look amazing against the backdrop of the rocks and the Aegean Sea. But it is worth climbing Imerovigli in Oia in the evening - the highest point on the caldera, from where you can see the sunset and the surroundings.

It is interesting to visit the bay of Akrotiri, located near the red-brown rock. There is a small beach with dark red sand, which is always crowded. In Perissa the sand is black and in Vlychad it is white. Against the backdrop of bizarre yellow rocks, these places resemble alien landscapes. The seclusion of the beaches attracts companies of nudists here.

Don't overpay for restaurants with a view

Unreasonably high prices in actively visited establishments are a common practice. Dinner in Fira is twice the cost of a meal in Perissa just because of the vaunted landscapes that open from the restaurant terrace. However, the whole island is beautiful and in any corner of the cafe during a meal you can enjoy the local beauties. It is better to eat in places preferred by the locals.

So, in Perissa, for a symbolic payment in Gods Garden, you can try delicious moussaka, in the center, in the Xanis restaurant, a rack of lamb is served for 5 euros, and in the Dimitis tavern, in Vlychady, delicious seafood dishes are prepared. Landscapes are not advertised here, but exotic dishes are prepared to perfection and from the freshest ingredients.

Don't count on service

The concept of time on the island is vague, if something breaks in the room, it will be fixed, and when it does not matter. Don't be discouraged if you have to go without a shower for a couple of days. Spend more time at sea, salt water disinfects and cleanses the skin.

The shade by the pool will save you from the heat, you can quench your thirst in a cafe with a cool frappe, and exotic dishes and light local wine, which can only be tasted here, will lift your bad mood. Immerse yourself in the regularity of the local way of life and enjoy its calmness and tranquility.