Santorini Island is one of the most southerly islands in the Cyclades. It lies between Ios Island  and Anafi Island, - Santorini is area of 96 sq. km and with ovet 11 thousand inhabitants.
Situated 240 KM / 130 nautical miles from Athens.

Athens Piraeus - Santorini 4:30 h (by HighSpeed Ferry - available only during the summer)
By Normal ferry it takes cca 7-9 hours.

Air: Santorini Island can be also reached from most international airports via Athens. The flight takes about 40 min from Athens Airport. In the summer is Santorini also connected with flights to and from Thessaloniki.

Main town in Santorini Island is Fira (Thira) and other important town (villages) are Oia, Emporio, Kamari, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and Therasia. Akrotiri is a major archaeological site with ruins from the Minoan era. The island has no rivers.

Accommodation: Santorini Island offers a wide range of hotels and accommodation, from budget villas and apartments to luxury five stars unique hotels. Many of hotels are in traditional Santorini style.

Santorini has a great history, starting from the Bronze Age.  The large excavation at Akrotiri, has verified that there was a great civilization on the island.  The excavations which started in 1956 brought to light an ancient city very well preserved, which was entirely buried beneath a very thick layer of ash from the great eruption in 1625 as the latest studies have shown. 

Herodotus,  who speaks about the early history of Santorini, tells us that the island was initially called Strongyle, the Round One, from its shape, later Kallisti, the Fairest One, because of its beauty, and after the Lacedaemonians' arrival and the foundation of their colony, they gave the island the name of their king, Thera.  The name Santorini was given by the Crusaders after a small chapel of Agia Irene (Santa Irene).

:: The Volcano
The last huge eruption of the volcano was 3.600 years ago, in the late bronze age. Millions cubic meters of ash and pumice were blown to a height of up to 36 km above the island. The removal of such a large volume of magma caused the volcano to collapse, producing a caldera. Ash fell over a large area in the eastern Mediterranean and Turkey.This ash buried the ancient city at Akrotiri and is feeding the myth of lost Atlantis.The Kameni Islands, Palea and Nea Kameni,  formed after the caldera. Eleven eruptions since 197 B.C. have made the two islands. The most recent eruption at Santorini was in 1950 on Nea Kameni, the northern island. The eruption was phreatic and lasted less than a month. It constructed a dome and produced lava flows..

HOTELS in SANTORINI ISLAND

	Hotel ZANNOS MELATHRON SANTORINI ISLAND **** Situated right next to the remains of the extraordinary medieval castle, the architectural order of the Zannos Melathron is in absolute harmony with the antique surrounding environment and the atmosphere. on request
	PARADISE HOTEL SANTORINI ISLAND *** On the Santorini, the most extra ordinary island of Greece, there is Akrotiri village. It's famous prehistoric town, the unique red and white beaches, the romantic sunset from the old light house the old castle. on request
	HOTEL ORION SANTORINI ISLAND ** Orion Hotel is located in a peaceful location on the mountainside of Mesa Vouno. The hotel provides a spacious terrace at the swimming pool with a view to the sea and the village Kamari (sunbeds and umbrellas at the pool area are free of charge). on request
	HOTEL FIRA - PALACE SANTORINI ISLAND **** Santorini Palace is an A' Class Hotel in Fira, the island's capitol. It is within walking distance from the breathtaking caldera, fine restaurants, and the main shopping center. on request