8 things you didn’t know about Santorini, Greece
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Santorini, Greece, is one of the most beautiful and romantic islands in the world. The island is full of pristine beaches, stunning geography, and ancient history. Santorini is also full of must-see attractions that only locals know about. If you’ve never been to this magical place, now is the time to plan this trip. Read on to find out things you didn’t know about Santorini, Greece.
What you did not know about Santorini
Santorini has very few blue roofs
When you think of Santorini, the image of the iconic blue rooftops usually pops up. The perception would be that the island is full of these roofs. These bright blue rooftops are featured in almost every photo of Santorini. However, the photos are variations of the same view. In reality, the roofs are mainly concentrated in City of Oia island sector.
You can see the damage caused by the tsunami thousands of years ago
Thousands of years ago, a huge tsunami destroyed neighboring Crete and created Santorini. Visitors to Santorini can still see the legacy of this natural phenomenon. Recently, scientists discovered a layer of seabed 65 feet below the surface of the water. This seabed contains pebbles, boulders with mollusks and other organisms oriented in the same direction as the current.
Some believe that mythical Atlantis is located near Santorini
For many years there was a legend that the ruins of Atlantis were buried under the sea near Santorini. When Santorini became a popular tourist destination, the location became a destination for fable seekers. According to legend, Santorini was ruined by a series of volcanic eruptions. As a result, Atlantis is said to have sunk to the bottom of the sea after the people angered the gods.
Hotel check-ins are perpetual
The check-in procedures at the hotel in Santorini are a bit special. Many hotels in Santorini send their clients to a tourist center on the island before check-in. The hotel will call the tourist center on your arrival and ask porters to help you with your luggage. After checking in, prepare to climb a lot of stairs. The tedious stair climb will be worth your while when you see your miraculous view from your room. Be sure to set aside a few hours in your schedule to check in to your hotel room.
Santorini is made entirely of volcanic rock
The whole island of Santorini is made up of volcanic rock. The Minoan eruption caused the creation of the island of Santorini. This phenomenon is one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the history of the world. Numerous eruptions occurring over several hundred thousand years created Santorini and the surrounding islands. These remnants of volcanic landscape now constitute Santorini and its adjacent islands.
The first citizens lived in cave houses
The first inhabitants of Santorini would build houses directly inside the volcanic walls of the island. They did this to protect themselves from the island’s inclement weather. Today visitors can stay in a modern and luxurious version of this traditional structure. Santorini paradise cave houses and Cave houses Genesis Santorini offer this accommodation experience to guests.
Local wine is better due to the volcanic landscape of Santorini
Wine lovers will have a wonderful time tasting the local Santorini wine. The land of Santorini is called a spa, and consists of volcanic ash, pumice stone and small pieces of lava and solid sand. This combination makes the soil rich in minerals. Santorini’s vineyards get most of their moisture from sea fog, as rainfall is minimal on the island. This combination of climate and soil gives the local Santorini wine its unique flavor. On the island, Venetsanos cellar has been serving Santorini wine since 1947 and offers tours and special events.
There are secret hot springs in Santorini
Santorini is made entirely of volcanic rock, so it’s no surprise that there are hot springs here. Santorini’s hot springs aren’t as well-known as those in Iceland, and visitors to Santorini don’t know what they are missing. When you swim in the waters around Santorini, you will know when you have entered a spring by the change in color of the water. The warmer waters of the island change color from a bright blue to a dark brown. Make sure to find one of these hot springs in Santorini to pamper yourself in the relaxing hot water.
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