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| Map of Santorini |
Santorini or Thira is located
in the southern Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades island group, south west of Ios and
Anafi. It's the 12th bigger island
of Cyclades with 76km2
extension and 18.883 population. Distance from Piraeus
is 128
nautical miles and 63 nautical miles from Crete. The Athinios
is the island's biggest port and
Fira is the capital. Santorini is
one of the most famous tourist centers of the
world. It is known for its volcano.
As the
ferry manoeuvres into the great caldera of Santorini(Thira),
the land seems to rise up and clamp around it. Gaunt, sheer cliffs loom hundred
of meters above the deep blue sea, nothing grows or grazes to soften the
awesome view, and the only colors are the reddish-brown, black and grey pumice
layers on the cliff face of Santorini. The landscape tells of a history so
dramatic and turbulent that legend hangs as fact upon it.
These
apocalyptic events, though, scarcely concern modern tourists, who come here to
take in the spectacular views, stretch out on the island's dark-sand beaches
and absorb peculiar, infernal geographic features. The tourism industry has changed traditional island life, creating
a rather expensive playground. There is one time-honored local industry,
however, that has benefited from all the outside attention: wine. Santorini is one of Greece's
most important producers, and the fresh, dry white wines it is known for (most
from the assyrtiko grape for which
the region is known) are the perfect accompaniment to the seafood served in the
many restaurants and taverns that hug the island's cliffs.
