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Cheap holidays in Santorini

Why not search our database of Cheap holidays in Santorini now by visiting the holidayco.co.uk homepage and using the search facility.

The island of Santorini forms part of the Cyclades island group which lies in the Aegean sea. Santorini is between Ios and Anafi at the southern end of the island group. It has 70km of coast with great beaches, on an island only 18km long.

The island's curious shape is due to its volcanic origin. About 3000BC a volcanic eruption created an area of land around a collapsed area called a caldera. It is thought that this eruption may have caused the destruction of the ancient Minoan civilisation, and may even be connected with the legends of lost Atlantis.

Elsewhere the caldera would be a crater lake where the mouth of the volcano was lower than the surrounding sides, but so close to sea level the crater was filled in by the sea, creating an island shaped like a hollow circle, with a 50-100m high cliff facing the caldera. The island's ancient name was Strogli, which means 'circular'.

The island's unusual shape is part of its unique charm, but Santorini has a lot more to offer than that. The island has been inhabited for many centuries and is home to some important historical sites including the ruins of the ancient city of Thira and the Venetian fortress at Pirgos. At the highest point of Santorini is the Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, where a major religious festival is held each year in July.

The town of Fira lies on the edge of the caldera. It is a very attractive place with many historic and attractive buildings and a fine museum of archeological finds from the area. From the town you can see the Kamenes out in the caldera. These are islets of black stone created by the volcanic eruption.

Oia also lies on the edge of the caldera. It is a very beautiful town with many art galleries and restaurants. The sunset in Oia has to be seen to be believed.

Perissa is a very beautiful resort with a good beach of black sand. The resort has a range of watersports on offer, plus an excellent array of tavernas and cafes to spend a relaxing afternoon in. Perissa is close to the ruins of ancient Thira.

Pirgos is a picturesque village built around a Venetian fortress. It is one of the largest villages on the island and lies close to the monastery of the Prophet Elijah.

Things to Do

Getting about on Santorini can be interesting. There are no street names or building addresses anywhere. There are also only 32 taxis on the entire island! Fortunately Santorini is not very large, so it is fairly easy to find your way around. The bus service is also pretty good, and connects with ferries to other islands. Car and motorcycle rental are available if you want a bit more freedom, though it pays to be careful on the roads.

If history interests you, you really must visit Akrotiri. The ruins of an entire ancient Minoan settlement were found there, preserved in much the same way as was Pompeii. Ancient Thira, located on Mesa Vouno, is another excellent historical site. It was settled after the eruption and contains ancient Greek and Roman remains. There are Roman temples and baths as well as the garrison's drill ground and training areas.

Having seen what the volcano did to the Minoans, it may alarm you a little to discover that it is in fact still semi-active. You can take a sailing excursion to the Volcano island where the semi-active crater can be seen. Less scary is a sailing expedition to see the caldera face from the water as the sun sets.

The villages of Perissa, Peribolos and Kamari offer a range of good beach and watersports, plus SCUBA diving off the coast. The Mediterranean waters are warm and clear, giving great visibility and diving conditions year round. There is also a water park in Perissa.

If you like to shop, the towns have many fascinating little shops and markets. One popular purchase is local jewellery, which is inspired by ancient Greek and Byzantine designs. You can also find leather and woven goods, art and handicrafts as well as wine and raki, the local distilled spirit.

There are several good museums on Santorini including the New Museum of Fira which displays pre-historic finds from the region. The Old Historical Museum in Fira displays mainly items from the Hellenic period.

The nightlife is mainly centred on the region around Oia, Fira, Perisa and Kamari. Fira has many bars and cafes along the cliff edge and can be quite lively. Oia is much quieter and is popular with couples as well as those seeking a relaxed get-away-from-it-all vacation.

If you want to explore a little further afield, you might take a trip to one of the other Cyclades islands. Ios is nearby. It is a very popular destination with good nightlife and entertainment. At the other end of the scale neighbouring Folegrandos is a haven of peace and quiet.

The largest of the Cycladean islands is Naxos. It offers a variety of attractions and has large cosmopolitan resorts as well as quieter villages and towns. Mykonos is also well worth a visit. It is one of the most popular destinations in the region and is frequented by the rich and famous as well as ordinary holidaymakers. Mykonos has the best nightlife in the Cyclades islands but also some quieter unspoiled areas where you can get away from it all.

Why not search our database of Cheap holidays in Santorini now by visiting the holidayco.co.uk homepage and using the search facility.