Πληροφορίες για την Σαντορίνη

Η Σαντορίνη είναι το πιο εκπληκτικό νησί του Αιγαίου. Ο επισκέπτης φτάνει σε μια περίεργη, κλειστή θάλασσα, οριοθετημένη από τα καμένα νησιά. Ολόκληρο το κέντρο του κυκλικού νησιού βυθίστηκε στη θάλασσα κατά τη διάρκεια της τρομερής ηφαιστειακής έκρηξης που έλαβε χώρα 3.500 χρόνια πριν. Η έκρηξη προκάλεσε παλιρροιακά κύματα, τα οποία στην ουσία κατέστρεψαν τον ανεπτυγμένο Μινωικό πολιτισμό της Κρήτης 70 μίλια προς το νότο. Μερικοί μελετητές πιστεύουν ότι το νησί αποτελεί μέρος της χαμένης θρυλικής Ατλαντίδας, η οποία υποτίθεται ότι βυθίστηκε κατά τη διάρκεια της καταστροφής.

Σήμερα η Σαντορίνη είναι ένα νησί σε σχήμα μεγάλου κρουασάν που περικλείει έναν τεράστιο κόλπο ο οποίος αποτελεί τη μεγαλύτερη καλντέρα στη γη (7x14 μίλια). Υπάρχουν επίσης τέσσερα πολύ μικρά νησιά που ονομάζονται Θηρασιά, Νέα Καμένη, Παλαιά Καμένη και Ασπρονήσι.

Οι πρώτοι κάτοικοι της Σαντορίνης, οι Πελασγοί, την ονόμασαν Καλλίστη (η πιο όμορφη). Δεδομένου ότι το νησί ήταν ακατοίκητο για τουλάχιστον δύο αιώνες, λόγω της έκρηξης του ηφαιστείου, οι Σπαρτιάτες ήρθαν και έζησαν σε αυτό, υπό την ηγεμονία του βασιλιά Θήρα, ο οποίος έδωσε το όνομα του στο νησί. Το όνομα Σαντορίνη δόθηκε στο νησί προς τιμήν της πολιούχου Αγίας Ειρήνης της Θεσσαλονίκης η οποία πέθανε στο νησί, ενώ βρισκόταν στην εξορία το 304 μ.Χ..

Santorini, which covers 132 square kilometers and is located 127 nautical miles from the port of Piraeus, has an important wine production; there is hardly any vegetation apart from vines. The rich volcanic soil also produces popular small sweet tomatoes. The island also exports pumice stone, china clay and pistachio nuts. Two million tons of volcanic soil is exported every year for use in the cement industry. A member of the Cyclades group of Aegean islands, Santorini has a permanent population of approximately 10.500. Santorini has 13 villages.

Fira, is the islands capital. It is situated 275 meters above the sea and may be reached from the port of Skala climbing the steep, 566 broad steps. This should only be attempted by the untiring while the traditional way up the zigzag path is by renting pack mules or donkeys. For those who prefer modern conveniences, a funicular lift is available.

The traditional settlement of Oia is located on the northern tip of the island, high on the cliff-top. The architecture of Oia, is typical Santorinian with houses sunk into the volcanic soil, whitewashed walls and bleu domes...

Oia in 1900 had close to 9.000 inhabitants with virtually all of them mariners and whose’ descendants today live in Piraeus. They owned 164 seafaring vessels and seven shipyards. In the area there were 79 churches.

After the devastating 1956 earthquake and the passing of 80 years, 1980 presented just 500 permanent residents, 75% of whom are mariners and who have 112 seafaring vessels. In 1951 Captain Antonis Dakoronias established a Maritime Museum.

There are several castles in Santorini, which were built by the islanders to protect themselves against the pirate attacks during the Middle Ages.

The most powerful castle was Scaros, which was built by the Venetians in 1207 and is located below the village of Imerovigli. In Oia there are two castles both built by the Venetians, Casteli and north of the village a strong square building named Goulas.

In the village of Pyrgos you can witness the remains of one more Venetian castle. The 1956 earthquake has heavily damaged most of them.

On the island there are more than 250 churches, from tiny ones to quite large and elegant ones, with something in common: they are clean and whitewashed.

Aghios stefanos, on the summit of Mesa Vouno (Middle Mountain), is the oldest one, and it was built on the traces of a basilica dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel between the fourth and fifth century.

In the village of Mesa Gonia, is located the church of Panaghia Episcopi. The 1915 fire destroyed a great number of its treasures such as liturgical and ecclesiastical books, priests vestments and holy vessels. Only icons had come out safe from the catastrophe. It is said that a hand covered them and protected them from being burnt. The church was built in 1115.

At the southern end of Santorini is the ancient excavation site of Acrotiri. Much of the credit for the finds at Acrotiri went to Dr. Spyridon Marinatos, a well-known Greek archeologist. His work began in the early 1930s and lasted until the day he was killed during an accident at the site in 1974. However work did not stop there and continues even today.

The volcanic material that burnt the island, is today its fertile soil and the shroud that covers and preserves the unique wall paintings, which were brought to light during the excavations. The frescoes of Thira have an extremely large variety of subjects; the artists have chosen them with care so as to cover rituals and social needs.

Many of them can be found among other finds at the Archeological Museum or at the Prehistoric Museum in Fira.