What are you looking for from a holiday? Do you want sun and lazy days on the beach? Do you want history and the chance to explore ancient ruins? Do you want to unwind and relax with a leisurely meal while watching the sunset? Personally, I want all three. I have found just the place – Santorini.
Rising steeply from the Aegean Sea, Santorini is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Don’t let that put you off. Santorini’s hotels cover the full spectrum from budget accommodation for backpackers to sumptuous elegance for those who enjoy life’s finer things.
It was here, 3,600 years ago, that one of the biggest eruptions in history occurred. The result, then, was devastating. The result, now, is spectacular. A giant central lagoon, actually a submerged caldera, is surrounded on three sides by the high cliffs of Santorini. Hotels and towns perched at the top of those steep cliffs offer you a view of the sunset perhaps unmatched anywhere else on earth. The traditional whitewashed buildings look out over the lagoon to the small island of Therasia and the Aegean Sea beyond. As the sun sets and the sky turns orange the panorama can be breathtaking.
At the time of the eruption there was a thriving Minoan outpost at Akrotiri. The city was buried under volcanic ash but excavations, which began in 1967, have gradually unveiled some of the splendour of the site. There are streets, squares and the remains of houses three stories high. The people of Akrotiri had hot and cold running water at a time when most Europeans were living in huts. The main treasures of Akrotiri are kept at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in the town of Fira. Most Santorini hotels have ample information on getting to, and around, both the museum and the archaeological site.
The island enjoys long, hot summers and mild winters making it an ideal place for a beach holiday. Whatever type of beach you like, chances are you can find it on Santorini. From the commercialisation of Perivolos, where you can enjoy scuba diving, jet skiing and windsurfing, to the solitude of Cape Colombo, Santorini has the beach for you.
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