June 2012 | dimitris-aspavillas-dimitris-Hindustan-Times

The myth about Atlantis.

1:06 AM |

The origins of this myth we can find in Plato´s dialogues Timaeus and Kritias. The state of Atlantis was a kingdom of two islands - Meison (Bigger One) and Elasson (Smaller One). This kingdom was formed by ten city-states. Plato describes in Kritias two of this cities - Metropolis (probably the island of Strongyli, present Santorini) and Vasiliki Politeia (probably the island of Crete).
Research works of two archeologists Spyros Marinatos and Nikos Platon convinced the scientists, that mythical Atlantis was -according to Marinatos- the Santorini island and according to Platon the island of Crete.
Both agreed that Atlantis was destroyed by volcanic eruption in 1500 BC. Angelos Galanopulos compares eruption of Santorini´s volcano to the eruption of the volcano of Krakatoa. In case of Krakatoa disappeared approximately 2/3 of this island (33.52 sq.km) at a depth of 200 to 300 metres. In case of Santorini dissapeared 83.52 sq.kilometeres at a depth of 300 to 400 metres.
Upheaval of gigantic water mass (41 875 cubic meteres) caused a massive tsunami. This tsunami were - on Krakatoa 100 m high, on Santorini 210 m high and reached the island of Crete. The eruption of Thera was four times stronger than Krakatoa. During this eruption was destroyed an entire island´s civilization and probably the Minoan civilization in Crete too. A dust from the volcano was found in Egypt too.

Skaros, at Imerovigli.

4:31 AM |

Skaros was one of the five fortified settlements and the most important one. The rock was inhabited in medieval times, because the fortress constructed there offered protection from pirates.

The original castle, known as ‘Epano Kastro’ (Upper castle in Greek) or 'La Roka' was built in the later Byzantine years by the Venetian Giacomo Barozzi. The first Duke of Naxos Marco Sanudo gave Santorini to Giacomo Barozzi in the year of 1207.

A whole settlement was built around and below Epano Kastro, the 'Kasteli' of Skaros. The densely populated Catholic settlement had 200 houses, and to reach its walls required at least half an hour’s walk. At the top of the rock hung a large bell, to warn inhabitants of imminent pirate raids.

The promontory at Skaros has been shaken repeatedly by strong earthquakes. Historical sources say that earthquakes during the eruptions of 1650, 1701 to 1711, and 1866 to 1870 caused considerable damage. The Venetian noble families that lived there decided to leave after the eruptions of 1707 to 1711.

Skaros was the capital of Santorini until the 18th century, although evacuation of Skaros started at the beginning of the 17th century. The rich Roman Catholics who had once lived there had moved to the town of Fira, abandoning the castle for a lower flatter level with access to the sea.

According to sketches and accounts of Count Choiseul-Gouffier, who visited Santorini in 1770, there were still houses on Skaros at that time. However when archaeologist Ludwig Ross visited Santorini in 1836, Skaros had been empty for years.

Skaros rock of today is totally uninhabited with the exception of a small church, the Chapel of Agios Ioannis Apokefalistheis, on its north side. Only a few ruins are left from the formerly numerous dwellings.

from: santorini. com

Akrotiri excavations.

2:39 AM |

Excavations starting in 1967 at the site called Akrotiri ("Upper Thira") under the late Professor Spyridon Marinatos have made Thera the best-known "Minoan" site outside of Crete, the homeland of the culture. The island was not called Thera at the time. Only the southern tip of a large town has been uncovered, yet it has revealed complexes of multi-level buildings, streets and squares, with remains of walls standing as high as 8 meters, all entombed in the solidified ash of the famous eruption of Thera. The site was not a palace-complex such as are found in Crete, but its excellent masonry and fine wall-paintings show that this was certainly no conglomeration of merchants' warehousing either. A loom-workshop suggests organized textile weaving for export. This Bronze Age civilization thrived between 3000 to 2000 BC, and reached its peak in the period 2000 to 1580 BC.

Some of the houses in Akrotiri are major structures, some being three storeys high. Its streets, squares and walls were preserved in the layers of ejecta, sometimes as tall as eight meters, and indicating this was a major town. In many houses stone staircases are still intact, and they contain huge ceramic storage jars (pithoi), mills and pottery. Noted archaeological remains found in Akrotiri are wall paintings or frescoes, which have kept their original colour well, as they were preserved under many meters of volcanic ash. The town had also a highly developed drainage system, and judging from the fine art work its citizens were clearly sophisticated and relatively wealthy people.

Pipes with running water and water closets found at Akrotiri are the oldest such utilities discovered. The pipes run in twin systems, indicating that the Therans used both hot and cold water supplies ; the hot water's origin was probably geothermic, given the volcano's proximity. The dual pipe system suggesting hot and cold running water, the advanced architecture, and the apparent layout of the Akrotiri find resemble Plato's description of the legendary lost city of Atlantis, further indicating the Minoans as the culture which primarily inspired the Atlantis legend.

Fragmentary wall-paintings at Akrotiri lack the insistent mythological content familiar in both Greek and Christian decor. Instead, the Minoan frescoes depict "Saffron-Gatherers", who offer their crocus-stamens to a seated lady, perhaps a goddess; in another house are two antelopes, painted with a kind of confident, flowing decorative, calligraphic line, the famous fresco of a fisherman with his double strings of fish strung by their gills, and the flotilla of pleasure boats, accompanied by leaping dolphins, where ladies take their ease in the shade of light canopies, among other frescoes.

The well preserved ruins of the ancient town are often compared to the spectacular ruins at Pompeii in Italy. Unfortunately for would-be visitors the canopy covering the ruins collapsed in September, 2005, killing one tourist and injuring seven more. The site remains closed while a new canopy is built.

The oldest signs of human settlement are Late Neolithic (4th millennium BC or earlier), but ca. 2000–1650 BC Akrotiri developed into one of the Aegean's major Bronze Age ports, with recovered objects that had come not just from Crete but also from Anatolia, Cyprus, Syria and Egypt, from the Dodecanese and the Greek mainland.

Panagia Episkopi (church), at Mesa Gonia.

5:20 AM |

Not far from the village of Mesa Gonia, in the foothills of Prophet Elias, is the Byzantine church of the Episcopate of Thera, founded at the end of the 11th century by the Emperor Alexios I Comnenos.

It is an inscribed-cross, four-columned church with dome. Preserved in the interior are wall paintings of excellent quality and a wooden, carved templon (iconostasis), decorated in the technique of mastic wax.

The church has survived the invasions of Venetians, Francs, Russians and Turks and still remains as an inspiration to the islanders. Panagia Episkopi was built in 1115, but had to withstand not only invasions and fires, but the tremendous earthquake of 1956. Any damages incurred by all these elements were quickly repaired by the faithful. The church is not only known for its ecclesiastical architecture. It is also admired for its remarkable Byzantine paintings and hagiography. A number of important icons can be seen in the church, although it bears to mention that 26 of the finest works were stolen in 1982 and never to be found.

. Today the church gathers large crowds on August Fifteenth, the day of its festival.

Kolumbo (the unknown volcano).

4:48 AM |

Kolumbo is an active submarine volcano in the Aegean Sea, about 8 km northeast of Cape Kolumbo, Santorini island. The largest of a line of about twenty submarine volcanic cones extending to the northeast from Santorini,it is about 3 km in diameter with a crater 1.5 km across. It was "discovered" when it breached the sea surface in 1649-50, but its explosion was not to be compared to the well-known Thera explosion and caldera collapse, currently dated ca. 1630 BCE, with its devastating consequences for Minoan civilization. The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program treats it as part of the Santorini volcano.

The 1650 explosion, which occurred when the accumulating cone reached the surface, sent pyroclastic flows across the sea surface to the shores and slopes of Santorini, where about seventy people and many animals died. A small ring of white pumice that formed was rapidly eroded away by wave action. The volcano collapsed into its caldera, triggering a tsunami that caused damage on nearby islands up to 150 km distant.The highest parts of the crater rim are now about 10 m below sea level.

In 2006, sea floor pyroclastic deposits from the two Aegean explosions were explored, sampled and mapped by an expedition by NOAA Ocean Explorer, equipped with ROV robotics.

The crater floor, averaging about 505 m below the sea surface, is marked in its northeast area by a field of hydrothermal vents and covered by a thick bacterial community, the 2006 NOAA expedition discovered. Superheated (measured as hot as 224°C) metal-enriched water issuing from the vents has built chimneys of polymetallic sulfide/sulfates to a maximum height of 4 m, apparently accumulated since the 1650 event.

The 2006 expedition initiated new seismic air-gun techniques in order to determine the volume and distribution of the submarine volcanic deposit of pumice and ash on the sea floor around Santorini, which has been studied extensively since 1975. Revised, more accurate estimates of the total dense rock equivalent volume of the Minoan event(s), consisting of pyroclastic sea floor deposits, distal ash fallout and ignimbrites on the island of Santorini, is likely about 60 km³, a greatly increased estimate, comparable to the largest historic explosion, Mount Tambora 1815; the increased estimate affects the size of the ensuing tsunami as it has been widely modeled.
from: wikipedia. org

Profitis Ilias, monastery.

4:42 AM |

The highest spot of the island (567 meters) is located between Pyrgos and Kamari. The Mountain's name is Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah), coming from the Monastery with the same name on its peak. From this vantage point, you will enjoy a striking view of the entire island, from the patchwork agricultural plains to the hilltop village of Oia.

The Monastery was built in 1712. The walls round the Monastery remind of a fortress. The history of Profitis Ilias is long and very importand for the life of Santorini during the centuries. In earlier times, owned its' own ship which conducted private business for the benefit of the monastery and at the same time the Monastery was an active intellectual and patriotic influence. From 1806 to 1845 it ran a school where the Greek language and literature were taught. The monastery's decline began in 1860; buildings suffered serious damage in the 1956 earthquakes.

The monastery today has an important collection of icons and bibles, and artefacts of the Greek Orthodox religion, ecclesiastical objects, books and ethnographic material. It also hosts displays on shoemaking, printing, candle making, wine making and of typical local food.

from: www. travel- to- santorini. com

The lighthouse at Akrotiri.

2:31 AM |

Akrotiri lies exactly on the axis of the shipping lane from Piraeus to Alexandria. The lighthouse is one of the best in Greece. It can be found 18 kilometers from Fira at an altitude of 58 meters. The geographical coordinates are: Latitude 36° 21' 05" N. and Longitude 25° 21' 05" E.

The lighthouse was built during the Ottoman Rule in 1892 by the French company 'La Société Collas et Michel'. Initially it operated on oil, and its beams reached a distance of 23 nautical miles. In 1925 it was renovated. During the Second World War the lighthouse stopped operating and started up again in 1945. By this time the lighthouse was manned by four persons and it had a beam visibility that reached a full 25 nautical miles, with a rotary flash every 30 seconds.

In 1983 electricity was installed and in 1988 the lighthouse became fully automated.

from: www .santonet. gr

Ancient Thira at Kamari.

4:34 AM |

The second important period in the history of Santorini is linked with the city of Ancient Thira. The excavation there, begun in 1896 by Baron Hiller von Gaertringen in the area of Mesa Vouno, revealed ruins of town which bore evidence of settlement as early as 9th century BC. The mountain of Profitis Ilias, Santorini's highest peak runs eastward into the lower rocky outcropping of Mesa Vouno. These two mountains are joined by a ridge named Sellada.

Mesa Vouno, with an altitude of 369 metres, extends from west to south and its steep slopes plunge to coast at Kamari to the north side and Perissa to the south.

This naturally fortified spot was an ideal place for the Spartan colonists to found their city. They built two roads, one to Kamari, where they had their port, and the other to Perissa. The strategic location of the town was appreciated later by the Ptolemies. In the 4th century BC, the most important era in the history of the island, Ancient Thira was transformed into an Egyptian naval base with the installation there of a large garrison.

The Excavations

Excavations in the area have brought to light a Hellenistic settlement that stretched from north - west to south - west. It was about 800 meters long its greatest width was 150 meters and was split in two by a central street, from which many side streets branched off.

Because of the sloping terrain, many of the alleyways were stopped. Of the buildings that have been discovered, the public ones were constructed of dressed limestone blocks, a material found in abundance on the island, while private houses were made of small stones of irregular shape.
from: www. santonet. gr

Garlic spaghetti with fresh tomato

4:35 AM |

Ingredients:

- ½ kg spaghetti

- 1 plate slightly cut fresh tomato

- olive oil

- 3 or 4 cloves garlic

- cinnamon, pepper, sugar, salt

- two orange barks

- some rosemary

Preparation:

First boil the spaghetti and then strain them, put some olive oil and keep them warm. In a small shallow pot, warm some olive oil and saute a little the garlic. Then put in the pot the tomatoes, the orange barks and the rosemary and add some sugar and salt. Stir regularly until the most of the tomato liquid evaporates. Put some cinnamon and pepper. In a while the sauce is ready and it can be poured on the spaghetti. Minced cheese is optional.

Σκορδομακάρονα με φρέσκια τομάτα - Μία συνταγή της Σαντορίνης

Υλικά

1/2 κιλό μακαρόνια
1 πιάτο ψιλοκομμένη φρέσκια ντομάτα
Ελαιόλαδο
3-4 σκελίδες σκόρδο
Κανέλα, πιπέρι, ζάχαρη, αλάτι
Δύο πορτοκαλόφλουδες
Λίγο δεντρολίβανο

Εκτέλεση
Βράζουμε τα μακαρόνια, τα σουρώνουμε, βάζουμε λίγο ελαιόλαδο και τα διατηρούμε ζεστά. Σε μία μικρή ρηχή κατσαρόλα, ζεσταίνουμε λίγο λάδι και τσιγαρίζουμε ελαφρά το σκόρδο. Στη συνέχεια ρίχνουμε την ντομάτα, τις πορτοκαλόφλουδες, το δεντρολίβανο και προσθέτουμε λίγη ζάχαρη και αλάτι. Ανακατεύουμε συχνά μέχρι να εξατμιστούν τα υγρά της ντομάτας. Ρίχνουμε κανέλα και πιπέρι. Εντός ολίγου η σάλτσα είναι έτοιμη και περιχύνουμε με αυτήν τα μακαρόνια. Το τριμμένο τυρί είναι προαιρετικό.

Garlic spaghetti with fresh tomato (a recipe of Santorini)

Catamaran Sailing Day tour.

3:55 AM |

Day tour: 5 hours
The morning tour starts from the Ammoudi port of Oia at 10.20-10.30 and the catamaran sails very close to the caldera cliffs so that you could explore the ‘Caldera’ and take some great photos. The crew members will offer you refreshments on board as the catamaran sailing very close to the Volcano, heading to the first stop at the Hot Springs. There you can have a mud bath and you will feel the activity of the volcano of Santorini and its thermal characteristics.
After half an hour the catamaran will sail to the south part of the Island. Sailing close to the Akrotiri, Light House and Indian Rock the catamaran will stop at the White Beach. At this unique beach we will stop for an hour for swimming and snorkeling. The crew members after offering you snorkeling equipment and towels, they will prepare the delicious barbeque meal with Greek Traditional products, Santorinian wine, fruits and soft drinks.
The Red beach is the last stop before ending the tour. The Red Beach has been formed from the Hot Lava of the volcano and its red color is vivid and unparalleled. The catamaran will stop there for about half an hour for swimming and snorkelling.

The mini bus will wait for you at the Vlychada port and within 25-35 minutes they will take you back at the hotel.

from: sailinginsantorini.com

The Prehistorical Museum of Santorini ( at Fira)

1:50 AM |

The Museum of Prehistoric Thera houses findings from the excavations at Akrtotiri, conducted under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens, the earlier excavations at Potamos, made by members of the German Archaeological Institute at Athens, and rescue excavations at various other sites on the island, carried out by the 21st Ephorate of Antiquities for the Cyclades and Samos, as well as objects discovered fortuitously or handed over.
The exhibition is structured in four units, referring to:

the history of research at Thera,
the geology of Thera,
the island's history from the Late Neolithic to the Late Cycladic I periond (early 17th century B.C.) and
the heyday of the city at Akrotiri (mature Late Cycladic I period, 17th century B.C.).

In the last unit, in particular, various aspects are presented, such as the plan and architecture of the city and its organization as an urban centre, the emergent bureaucratic system, the development of the monumental art of wall-painting, the rich and diverse pottery repertoire, the elegant jewellery, the reciprocal influences between vase-painting and wall-painting, and the city's and the island's complex network of contacts with the outside world.

The exhibits include fossils of plants that flourished before the human habitation of Thera and archaeological objects. Among the earliest pieces are Neolithic pottery, Early Cycladic marble figurines, Early Cycladic pottery, including interesting pieces of the transitional phase from Late Cycladic II to Late Cycladic III period (Kastri group) from the Christiana islets and Akrotiri (3300-2000 B.C.) -Middle Cycladic pottery with a series of impressive bird jugs, many of them decorated with swallows - from Ftellos, Megalochori and Akrotiri (20th-18th century B.C.), and Early Cycladic metal artefacts from the last two sites.

Noteworthy among the numerous exhibits from the period when the city at Akrotiri was at its zenith (17th century B.C.) are the plaster casts of furniture, the household equipment, the bronze vessels, tools and weapons, the objects that bear witness to the practice of metalworking, the sealings, seals and Linear A tablets. Impressive too are the magnificent wall-painting ensembles (wall-painting of Ladies and Papyri, wall-painting of the Blue Monkeys) and fragments of others (the "African", Adorant Monkeys, Bird, Floral motifs). Last, there are numerous and luxurious clay vases including the remarkable pithos with the bull, vases of stone and of clay imported from different parts of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, and the gold ibex figurine, a remarkable recent finding.

The exhibition endeavours to sketch the course of Thera in prehistoric times, through selected findings from the thousands in the storerooms. This was a dynamic and creative course which established the city at Akrotiri as one of the most important Aegean centres during the 18th and 17th centuries B.C.

Opening Hours :

Everyday except Mondays: 08:30 - 20:00

from: santorini.gr

Volcano-Hot Springs-Thirasia Sailing Tour. Start From Oia.

1:20 AM |

Volcano-Hot Springs-Thirasia Sailing Tour. Start From Oia.

This tour is the most popular in Santorini. You have the opportunity to discover the Nea Kameni island (the volcano), the famous Hot Springs and the picturesque island of Thirasia.

The total duration of the trip is about 5 hours and 30 minutes. Trip start from Ammoudi at 10:00 and you will be back at about 15:45. They provide also a free transportation from Aspa Villas to the Ammoudi port and at the end of the excursion from the Ammoudi port to here.

The traditional boat is ideal for daily excursions and it is equipped with W.C, shade and a bar. After your embarkation in Ammoudi port, the boat is heading for your first stop in Nea Kameni (volcano). There you will stop for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The guided tour (speaks fluently Greek, English and French) will show you the craters of the Volcano and will inform you about the history of one of the most important volcanoes of the whole world. If you are lucky and there is no wind at all, you can see steam coming out of the craters. Yes, it’s an active volcano.

Volcano

Second stop is the Palaia Kameni island and the famous Hot Springs. The temperature of the water is 5 Celsius degrees /41 Fahrenheit degrees warmer than the rest sea of Santorini. Also the sea water is mixed with sulphur. That gives a gold color to the waters and a very a nice mud bath to your body.

Last stop is the picturesque island of Thirasia. Thirasia was an extension of Oia thousands years ago. Nowadays retains a unique character away from the growing life of the rest Santorini. There you can feast fresh fish, traditional mezedes (snacks) and local wine or you can take a donkey and visit the traditional village of Manolas.

It is recommended to have sunglasses, comfortable shoes for walking, a towel and a hat.

The tour has a great price, 30€ (special prices for students and children).

Hot springs
Volcan-Hot Springs, Tour de Voile-Thirasia. À partir de Oia.
Cette visite est la plus populaire à Santorin. Vous avez la possibilité de découvrir la Nea Kameni île (le volcan), les célèbres sources chaudes et la pittoresque île de Thirasia.
La durée totale du voyage est d'environ 5 heures et 30 minutes. Voyage début de Ammoudi à 10h00 et vous serez de retour vers 15h45. Ils fournissent également un moyen de transport sans Aspa Villas au port Ammoudi et à la fin de l'excursion à partir du port d'Ammoudi ici.
Le bateau traditionnel est idéal pour des excursions quotidiennes et il est équipé avec WC, d'ombre et un bar. Après votre embarquement dans le port Ammoudi, le bateau se dirige vers votre premier arrêt à Nea Kameni (volcan). Il vous vous arrêterez pour environ 1 heure et 30 minutes. La visite guidée (parle couramment grec, anglais et français) vous montrera les cratères du volcan et vous informera sur l'histoire de l'un des plus importants volcans du monde entier. Si vous êtes chanceux et il n'y a pas de vent du tout, vous pouvez voir la vapeur sortir des cratères. Oui, c'est un volcan actif.
Deuxième arrêt est la Palaia Kameni île et les célèbres sources chaudes. La température de l'eau est de 5 degrés Celsius / 41 degrés Fahrenheit plus chaudes que la mer reste de Santorin. En outre l'eau de mer est mélangé avec du soufre. Cela donne une couleur d'or pour les eaux et une très belle un bain de boue à votre corps.
Dernier arrêt est de l'île pittoresque de Thirasia. Thirasia était une extension de Oia milliers d'années. De nos jours conserve un caractère unique loin de la vie de plus en plus du reste Santorin. Il vous est possible de pêcher fête frais, mezedes traditionnels (collations) et le vin local ou vous pouvez prendre un âne et de visiter le village traditionnel de Manolas.
Il est recommandé d'avoir des lunettes de soleil, chaussures confortables pour la marche, une serviette et un chapeau.
La visite a un bon prix, 30 € (tarifs spéciaux pour les étudiants et les enfants).

Katharos beach, at Oia.

2:07 AM |

Katharos beach is located to the west of Oia village,only 1 km. far. To get there, go towards Ammoudi until you reach the sign-post for Katharos. Turn right there and after about 100 meters you’ll reach a parking area. From there, continue on foot for about 2 min walk downhill, following the path that leads you onto the beach. Do not forget to get your necessities from the cafe-bar next to the parking area, since there is nothing on the beach.Black pebbles and big sharp rocks dominate the landscape and create a wild beauty. The rocks also offer some shade if you are there in the morning hours. On a windless day it could be the perfect place to visit and spend some relaxing time.

White beach, at Akrotiri.

2:02 AM |

White beach is located 14 km away from Fira and is one of the major tourist attractions. Its name derives from the stones that cover the sand. Actually the white beach is covered by black, gray and white sand with large pebbles, surrounded by huge white rocks that increase the sense of isolation. Getting there is only possible by boat from Akrotiri. There you will find some umbrellas and sun beds and a small canteen. It is located 14 km away from Fira and is one of the major tourist attractions. Its name derives from the stones that cover the sand.

from: travel-to-santorini.com

Red beach, at Akrotiri.

1:54 AM |

Red Beach is very popular, despite its difficulty to access. You can drive here and scramble down the cliffside or walk or take a water taxi from nearby Akrotiri.

It is known as Kokkini Ammos (Red Beach) in Greek because of its red pebbles and dramatic red lava cliffs thrusting upwards from the crystal clear water. There are sunbeds and sun umbrellas for hire along the beach. Red Beach is quite small so can get quite crowded.

The sand itself gets incredibly hot in summer and is course and reddish black in colour, so you will need to wear flip flops.

Snorkelling is good around the rocky outcrops of Red Beach too.

from:simply-santorini.com

Oia

1:46 AM |

The village is also situated on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia.

Oia is situated on the north of the island, 11 km away from Fira.

It is a traditional village with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches, and sun-bathed verandas. Its streets have plenty of tourist shops, taverns, cafés, and other shops.

Oia has several cultural attractions like the Maritime Museum which houses a small library, items from the maritime life of the area, and the vestiges of a Venetian fortress.

Many artists fell in love with the area and settled there. For that reason, the village of Oia has many art galleries.

Oia is a historical village that was strongly connected with the maritime life of the Santorinians.

Oia, thanks to its port, was involved with seafaring and this resulted in an amazing development as far as this specific field is concerned. This rise started in late eighteenth century and lasted until the mid-twentieth century, reaching its peak in 1880s. According to the historical sources, the Greek fleet consisted of 2,500 sailing vessels. A large number of them, 170, belonged to Santorini, while seventy of these Santorinian vessels were large overseas sailing brigs.

Oian ships crossed the seas transporting merchandise from and to the Western Europe. They connected the small port of Oia with the cities of the Mediterranean Sea, the Black, the White and the Red Sea as well as with the Atlantic Ocean, beyond the Gibraltar Straits.

The maritime daily life of Oia village is obvious even thanks to the architectural style of it. The “hyposkafa”, cave houses, were nestled in the rocks of the cliffs and one could see only their arched entrance. In this way, their habitants, who were sailors, managed to hide themselves from pirates.

Some meters higher, on the top of the rim, the captains and the ship owners had built their mansions which were bigger and more comfortable than the cave houses.

Oia was inhabited by seafarers and shipwrights who repaired the ships when needed. Undoubtedly, it played a very important role in the shipping of Greece and it was widely famous for it in the past.

Nowadays, it is a village that have been damaged seriously by the earthquake, yet rebuilt in absolute respect to its traditional style. So, it is a picturesque settlement where the visitor can admire the old cave houses and the mansions, the blue-domed churches and the white washed modern houses that make Oia unique and amazingly pretty.

from: oia-santorini. net

& greeka. com

Baxedes beach, at Oia.

1:36 AM |

The beach of Baxedes, located in northern Santorini, is a lovely coarse sandy beach with crystal-clear waters and shade provided by the trees located on the beach.

It is the ideal place for those who wish to stay away from the more frequented beaches of Santorini.

Baxedes is surrounded by many beaches such as Paradise or Gia sas. Due to its location the beach is affected by the summer northern winds (meltemia) and it is not the best choise when the north wind is blowing.

Πατιναδα 7παιδες Οια 2010

1:24 AM |

Kambia beach at Akrotiri.

3:06 AM |

Kambia beach is situated between Red beach and White beach on the southwest coast of Santorini.

It is a small, quiet beach with big pebbles and crystal clear water. The best swimming spot is on the right side of the bay, in front of a house. After your swim you could choose to dine at the beach-taverna with a lovely view of the nearby Red beach as a backdrop.

To get there you follow the road to Akrotiri and a just before you reach the village, you turn right at the sign-post towards Kambia. After around 1500 meters there is an other sign-post. Turn left there and follow the dirt road for about 2,1 km until you reach the beach.

La plage Kambia se trouve entre la plage Rouge et la plage Blanche au sud-ouest de Santorini.

C’est une petite plage, calme avec du galet gros et eaux claires. Le meilleur lieu pour nager est son côté droit devant la maison qui est là. Apres votre bain vous pouvez goûter votre plat à la taverne de la plage ayant une vue de la plage rouge qui est très près.

Pour aller à la plage Kambia vous devez suivre la rue vers Akrotiri et juste avant d’entrer dans le village vous tournerez à droite du panneau pour Kambia. Apres 1500 mètres il y a un autre panneau où vous devez tourner à gauche vers la plage. De ce point là commence la route de terre qui aboutit à la plage après presque 2,1 km.

from: greeceby the sea. com

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