Santorini, Greece Hotels and City Guide

Santorini - Attractions

What to see and do in Santorini

Santorini Volcano and Caldera
The islands making up Santorini were formed by an ancient volcanic explorsion which sunk the inner cone of the volcano, thus flooding it and leaving it surrounded by steep cliffs. Boat excursions out into the bay between the main island of Santorini and Therasia reveal the layers of volcanic debris making up the cliffs which lead up to Fira. There are also two volcanic island in the centre of the bay; Palea Kameni, the oldest, and Nea Kameni, whose youngest lavas are only fifty years old.

Akrotiri
Akrotiri is an ancient excavation site on Santorini which reveals a well-preserved Minoan city buried by ash and lava, in much the same way as Pompeii was. Interesting though is the lack of human skeletal remains, an indication to archelogotist that the town was most likely evacuated in good time, resulting in little or no loss of life.

Oia
Oia, to put it simply, is a postcard-perfect town. Its blue-domed churches have graced the covers of luxury travel magazines the world over, and its fabulous white terraces with endless ocean views have entertained celebrities, travellers and locals alike for many years. Two of Oia’s most popular tourist offerings are its amazing sunsets and its traditional cave houses. These houses have been carved into the volcanic cliffs on which the town is built, and some are hundreds of years old.

Santorini’s Black Beaches
The beaches of Perivolos, Kamari and Perissa are famed for their dark, black sand – remnants of the ancient cvolcanic explosions. The sea water at these beaches is also slightly water than at ‘paler’ beaches due to the sand retaining the sun’s warmth.

Hotels in Santorini, Greece