Santorini or Thira is one of the most magical places in the world!

Crescent-shaped Santorini the precious gem of the Aegean is actually a group of islands consisting of Thíra, Thirassiá, Asproníssi, Palea, and Nea Kaméni in the southernmost part of Cyclades.

The whole complex of Santorini islands is still an active volcano and probably the only volcano in the world whose crater is in the sea.

The last big eruption occurred 3,600 years ago -during the Minoan Age –  when igneous material covered the three islands Thíra, Thirassiá, and Asproníssi. The eruption destroyed the thriving local prehistoric civilization, evidence of which was found during the excavations of a settlement at Akrotíri.  The most recent volcanic activity on the island occurred in 1950.

Santorini was named by the Latin Empire in the thirteenth century, and is a reference to Saint Irene, from the name of the old cathedral in the village of Perissa – the name Santorini is a contraction of the name Santa Irini.

Before then, it was known as Kallisti  (“the most beautiful one”), Strongili ( “the circular one”) or Thira. The name Thira was revived in the nineteenth century as the official name of the island and its main city, but the colloquial name Santorini is still in popular use.

Santorini’s primary industry is tourism. Agriculture also forms part of its economy, and the island sustains a wine industry, based on the indigenous Assyrtiko grape variety. White varieties also include Athiri and Aidani, whereas red varieties include mavrotragano and mandilaria.

Firá is the picturesque capital of the island; perched high up on the edge of the Caldera, it looks like a marvelous painting. Firá, together with Oia, Imerovígli, and Firostefáni located high above on a cliff and is the balcony of Santorini, which offers an amazing view of the volcano. Other famous smaller villages are Akrotíri and Méssa Vounó, with their famous archaeological sites.

National Geographic magazine has issued the listing of the best summer sunsets in the world. The famous and magical sunset of Santorini was ranked at the sixth place of the list. According to National Geographic, the sunset in Santorini is a giant postcard. As the sun starts to slip below into the Aegean Sea, the sky all around the traditional village and castle of Oia, on the very northern tip of the island of Santorini, gives itself over from the day’s magnificent blue to crimson to…every sunset color imaginable.

A thousand sunsets, a thousand memories,  colors of blue red & gold streaking the sky… this is Santorini island… Poets have written about it, artists attempt to capture its beauty. Nothing can quite describe… the unsurpassed magic of Santorini.