Geography & History

Santorini has a long history starting from the Bronze Age.
The excavation at Akrotiri shows that there existed a great civilization on
the island. In 1956 the excavations brought to light a well preserved
ancient city with beautiful wall paintings and a particularly advance system of drainage.
The huge eruption of the volcano was in 1500 B.C. destroyed everything and so the Minoan civilization was erased.
Up until then the island was known as Strogili (round) because of its round shape. After the eruption of the volcano and the earthquake a largepart of the island sank into the sea giving it the shape it remains today.
Some believe that Santorini is the location of the mystical lost Antlantis.

When the Phoenicians conquered the island the name was changed to Kalisti
(the very best).Later on the name was change to Thera in honour of king Thera of Sparta. The Romans used Thera as place to send exiles.
Sometime between the 2th and the 5th century, Christianity was introduced to the island.
Pirates attacked the island numerous times.
The Venetians came in 1204 and conquered. It was then it took the name for which it is known today.The patron saint was Agia Irini and the sailors called Santa Irini.
Thus the name Santorini.

In 1354 and 1397 the island was destroyed by the Venetians.

 

Finally in 1821 Santorini joined the Greek revolution and was liberated from the Turkish rule.
In 1956 it a terrible earthquake struck again and almost destroyed almost the island.