The destination
Santorini
The island
Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades, between Ios and Anafi. It covers 76 square kilometres with 69 km of coastline and a perimeter of about 36 nautical miles. It lies 128 nautical miles from Piraeus and 63 from Crete.
The volcano
Santorini is a complex of islands: Thera, Thirasia, Aspronisi and the volcano (Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, home to the crater). Together with Methana, Nisyros and Milos, it is one of the active volcanoes of Greece.
The history
The name Thera comes from the mythical settler Theras of Sparta, who arrived around the 10th century BC and founded the city of the same name on Mesa Vouno. The Venetians named the islands Santorini, mentioned by the Arab geographer Edrisi in 1153. It is a contraction of Santa Irene, from either the church on Thirasia or the lost early Christian basilica in Perissa.
The Caldera
Thera, Thirasia and Aspronisi are remnants of a prehistoric round island. They surround a deep sea basin where Palea and Nea Kameni emerged. This basin is the Caldera: 8 × 5 km and up to 370 m deep.