Ancient Thera in Santorini

12 August, 2010 By

The ancient city of Thera is one of the most visited places in Santorini. It is in a fortified place, 396m above the sea. The Dorians formed a closed society which was influenced only by its immediate neighbors and for its strategic position.

Ancient Thera, Santorini

Ancient Thera, Santorini

The site was excavated by a German expedition in 1860, and you can see remains of Hellenistic culture, Roman and Byzantine periods. The ruins are limited, but you can see evidence of temples, houses with mosaic floors, an agora, a gymnasium and a theater with stunning views over the sea. Many of the ruins dates from the Ptolemies, who built temples in honour to the gods of Egypt in the third and fourth centuries BC.

Ancient Thera, Santorini

Ancient Thera, Santorini

On the western edge of the site there is a sanctuary of the third century BC that has reliefs symbolizing the gods, an eagle (Zeus), a lion (Apollo), a dolphin (Poseidon), and a phallus (Dionisio). To the east you will find the Terrace of the celebrations. The graffiti was a problem even in the eighth century BC, and if you look, you can find the message in favor of participatantes at festivals.

Road to Ancient Thera, Santorini

Road to Ancient Thera, Santorini

There is a footpath from Perissa, and the walk is about thirty minutes. To go by car, take the road from Kamari.

Filed Under: Old Thera, Things to see

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    • Thirasia Island in Santorini

    12 August, 2010 By

    This gem is the best kept secret on the island of Santorini. Almost always it is common to visit the island as part of the trip to the volcano, which usually takes you to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni and stops in Thirassia before ending at Oia to see the sunset.

    Thirasia Island, Santorini

    Thirasia Island, Santorini

    Thirasia Island has only 9 square kilometers in size and has only one hundred and fifty inhabitants. Manolas village is the capital of Thirassia. Other smaller settlements are Korfos, Riva and Potamos. Manolas is composed of small and quaint houses painted in various colors. The main attractions of this island are the virgin beaches and unspoilt nature.

    Facts to consider:

    You can not go to Thirassia except in a tour.
    There is no boat regular service (as such) towards Thirassia.
    Staying two hours in the island is not enough.

    How do we get to the island?

    There is a boat in Ammoudi (below Oia port) which starts at noon and returns at 5 pm (Note: check these times in Ammoudi). It goes to the village of Riva, which usually is not even marked on any map. Here you can catch a bus to the main village of Manolas, or (if you are very animated) can begin to walk and experience the island as it was before the tourist boom.

    Incidentally, Riva is the location of the church of St. Irene of which are believed to come from the name of Santorini. From Manolas, you can walk to the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin. Apart from this monastery, there are another twenty churches in Thirasia. Every year on 21th September, there’s a party in honor of the Virgin Mary.

    Filed Under: Things to see, Thirasia Island

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    • Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Santorini

    12 August, 2010 By

    The prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri is one of the oldest and most important urban centers of the Aegean. Thera is considered equal to the Acropolis and museums Vergina.

    Address: Fira Santorini 847 00 Greece

    Phone: +30 22860 23217

    Hours: 8.30 – 15.00 (closed Mondaays)

    Price: 3 €

    Admission is free on Sundays from November to March and the first Sunday of each month except July.

    Small but concise, well structured, the museum offers a journey through time only in the distant past of Santorini, Greece and helps visitors to discover, step by step, the continuity and progress of civilization of Thera through the centuries.

    Inhabited since at least the mid-fifth millennium BC, was in the third millennium BC when Akrotiri was transformed from a fishing village to a remarkable town on the coast. A few meters from the entrance of the Museum, the marble figures and vases at the foot are reminiscent of the active role played Thera, not only in the early Cycladic civilization, but in the Aegean area in general.

    After that, the next door rooms show the high level of development reached in the seventeenth century when it became a commercial port. The town of Thera invented their own ways of measuring quality, ownership and origin of commodities. Vases in standardized and decorations forms, wide range of lead balance weights, vessel stamps on the products that came from Crete, they all make us imagine what it must have been to be a trader in the time.

    And last but not least, the golden statue of the goat, his magic is enhanced by the fact that they have not discovered what was the purpose for which it was created.

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    • Skaros Rock in Santorini

    12 August, 2010 By

    Skaros is a rocky promontory jutting into the azure blue Aegean Sea. It is located on the front of the village of Imerovigli. Formerly stood here a majestic castle, which used to be the principal place of Christian congregation in Santorini until the early 1800′s. Unfortunately, the castle was completely ruined during an earthquake in the nineteenth century and all that remains today are the remains of the legend castle. The Skaros medieval castle was never conquered during its 600 year history.

    Skaros Rock, Imerovigli, Santorini

    Skaros Rock, Imerovigli, Santorini

    There is a well marked trail that starts in the famous church of Agios Georgios connecting Skaros to the village of Imerovigli. The views are stunning and are literally a joy to behold.

    Skaros used to be the capital of Santorini until the eighteenth century. Later in the nineteenth century, Fira became the capital due in large part to its proximity and easy access to the sea. However, Skaros still retains its old world charm and has much to offer in terms of scenic beauty of the surroundings.

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    • Ruins at Akrotiri in Santorini

    12 August, 2010 By

    The history of a place usually has a double vision: on one hand, is the story of people who lived there and their achievements, on the other hand, is the story of the place itself. Santorini has a rich history on both sides. It is the cradle where it was born a civilization, so advanced that keeps us perplexed, even after 3700 years. But it is a constant evolution of the earth, who has been born, has died and returned to life several times. It is no coincidence that this land has been associated with several myths and legends and, for some scholars, has been associated with the lost Atlantis.

    Like Pompeii, Akrotiri has been perfectly preserved under volcanic debris. But Akrotiri has been forgotten, while Pompeii was a thriving Roman city. Akrotiri was a close ally of the Minoan culture on Crete, which flourished some 3,500 years ago. The remains are impressive: the houses of two and three floors, nicely decorated with murals, witnessed a prosperity that has only recently returned to Santorini. In addition, the city was built close to the sea, showing that people enjoyed a security that later generations have not had for thousands of years. It’s really impressive the high level of development reached by these people for more than three millennia.

    The city is being rebuilt from the cataclysm that happened in the 17th century BC, but the findings show that the site was occupied from the Middle Neolithic period (mid-fifth millennium BC). Only 3% of the site has been excavated so far. Many of the glorious remains of the site can be accessed at the Museum of Prehistoric Thira in Fira (8.30 to 14.30, closed on Mondays).

    Ticket is 5 € and you can take pictures without flash throughout the excavation. If you want to get with flash or video must apply for permission. To reach the ruins, it can be done from the village of Akrotiri and the Red Beach.

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