The Greek island of Santorini is among the most well known destinations for tourists. It has inspired, and still does, many photographers and painters with its magical blue hues, breathtaking sunsets and whitewashed villages. The island is situated next to a live volcano and a caldera, a basin of very deep sea water. The basin was shaped when the volcano erupted around 1650 B.C.

Santorini is unique not only because of its serene heavenly beauty, but for its archaeological site located in the southern part of the island. The promontory of Akrotiri is the location of a settlement of the Late Bronze Age (1700- 1650 B.C.). When the nearby volcano exploded, it spewed forth volcanic materials (pumice and volcanic ash) and buried the contents of Akrotiri. The site was never inhabited again.

Akrotiri is one of the most important archaeological sites all over the world, as it mirrors the high level of preservation found at Pompeii. It is a real prehistoric city buried under tons of pumice and volcanic ash, found almost intact the way it used to be before the fatal volcanic eruption that caused its end. Visually, Akrotiri looks like a snap shot of a deserted city. (more…)