Santorini

Santorini is part of the Cyclades group of islands. It is an island, on a Greece vacation that you might imagine as an archetypal Greek Island with its white-washed houses and churches and blue sky. This very beautiful island was formed by a huge volcanic eruption which created a large lagoon in the middle of the island. It is consequently surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides. It still has an active volcano, the only one in the world whose crater is in the sea. The last big eruption occurred 3,600 years ago. Santorini has a reputation as being a romantic island with its crystal-clear waters perched on the rim of a volcano in the middle of the sea - add to this its amazing sunsets. 

The capital is Fira, a town of proverbial white-washed houses which lies on top of a series of high cliffs. It is where you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the island and an amazing view of the volcano on trips to Greece. It is in Fira, on travel to Greece, that you can sit at a café, bar or restaurant and enjoy wonderful views of the harbour where the cruise ships call in. The Santorini Archaeological Museum in Fira has exhibits from Roman times to the 5th Century AD. For more dramatic views, take the cable from the town to the top of the cliff. 

Akrotiri is an ancient city dating back to the Minoan civilization (2700–1420 BC) which was rediscovered only 50 years ago when it was found under the volcanic ash from an earthquake in the 1600’s BC. You can view three-storey buildings that survived plus roads, drainage systems and pottery. Like the Roman ruins of Pompeii, it is remarkably well-preserved. Excavated artifacts are shown in the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira.