Santorini

Geography
Santorini is the southernmost island of the Cyclades. It covers an area of just over 70 square kilometers and is surrounded by some volcanic islands. Santorini is a small semicircular archipelago; a result of a volcanic explosion. Its capital is Fira, a town with white cube houses and blue domes situated on top of a cliff.

Climate
Santorini has a Mediterranean climate. Summer temperatures are very high and rainfall is scarce. In winter it is a mild and rainy climate.

Time Zone
The time zone is GMT +2h.

Currency
The official currency is the Euro.

Language
Modern Greek (also known as Demotiki), which is the Greek spoken today, is a language derived from vulgar Greek and was made official in 1976. It is very different, both in pronunciation and vocabulary, from ancient Greek. In the main tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and shops, people also speak English, French, German and Italian. You'll also find menus, directions and tourist brochures written in Italian, English, French and German.

Electrical outlets / phone coverage
Electrical current is 220 volts. In the case of different socket, you can buy an adapter locally or at the airport.

When you enter, your phone will automatically connect to a Greek telephone operator.
For calls to Greece, the country code is +30, following with the local area code.

Customs / Habits
Santorini is characterized by huge cliffs where there are villages with white houses and hinterland villages surrounded by vineyards, tomato crops and pistachios. Besides tourism, viticulture and crafts (especially weaving) are the two other activities practiced by local people. Visitors can taste delicious local wines and get lost among the many craft shops.

Culture / Traditions
In the past, Santorini was a circular island with a volcano in the middle. Following a major volcanic eruption, the island changed its shape; a part of the island collapsed and was submerged into the sea. The caldera has been spreading very slowly and has risen above water. Following this major natural disaster, many scientists believe that Santorini is so famous and sought the lost continent: Atlantis. On the island is Fira, a town completely rebuilt in 1956 following an earthquake. Fira attracts tourists from all over the world thanks to its unique architecture, it consists of cube-shaped houses, nestled above the other, and blue domes.

Religion
Over 90% of the population is Greek Orthodox. Religious ceremonies are a very impressive performances, as the Orthodox liturgy is based on a number of rituals. In the country there are also minorities of Jews, Protestants, Catholics and Moslems.

Airports / Car Rental
The airport of Santorini is located in Kamari; a few miles from the beach Monolithos.Questo airport provides connections to Athens (the flight takes about 45 minutes). Having landed you can reach your destination by bus or taxi. In addition, many hotels organize a bus service from the airport to the hotel.
On the island you can rent cars, scooters and bicycles.

Public Transportation
On the island you can also travel by bus (equipped with air conditioning) – driving daily. The bus leaves every 30 minutes, linking to the tourist attractions on the island. The main bus station is located in the island's capital, Fira.

Ship
Santorini has two ports. At Athinios, you can find the main port that ensures links with the main islands of the Cyclades, whilst in Fira Skala, there is another smaller port. This port is the starting point for numerous cruises that go past the Main Island and the picturesque coastline.
To travel by sea there is the Athens-Santorini ship. It takes seven to nine hours.
Santorini is also a stop for many cruises through the Aegean Sea.

Taxi / Infrastructure
Outside the airport and tourist resorts there are taxis 24/7.

Gastronomy
Greek cuisine is seafood, meat, and is enriched with numerous spices. Below are listed some of the major Greek specialties:

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• Feta: famous goat cheese that is usually accompanied by olives
  
• Zaziki: Greek sauce made with yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, seasoned with a little oil and vinegar. The Zaziki you eat with pita bread (unleavened bread)
  
• Moussaka: eggplant fried pie, minced meat, tomatoes, onions and cheese typical Greek.
  
• Souvlaki: kebabs
  

Santorini also has a long tradition for wine.

Lifestyle
Santorini is one of the most popular destinations in Greece. The island is a vibrant tourist destination. In particular, the island is full of restaurants and hotels of the first category. The beautiful landscapes, beaches and sunsets that the island offers are accompanied by luxurious hotels and various tourist facilities. This mix makes the island particularly romantic in the eyes of its visitors (and it’s therefore not a coincidence that Santorini has become a popular place to spend a romantic honeymoon). Although tourism is the islands the main economic activity, Santorini still has a part of the population living by agriculture and handicrafts. The main activities are in the texture and viticulture industries.

Attractions
Santorini fascinates and enchants its visitors with its splendid natural scenery and its picturesque villages with whitewashed houses nestled cubic one above the other.
On the island there are many beautiful beaches; among the finest we can see the black beaches of Kamari and Perissa owe their color to the volcanic lava.
In these places, you can also practice varied aquatic activities, including the Santorini Waterpark in Perivolos-Perissa.

On Santorini you can enjoy one of the most beautiful, charming and romantic sunsets in the world.

On the archipelago you can visit three beautiful islands surrounding Santorini: Nea Kameni, where you'll find yourself walking up to a picturesque landscape that recalls a sort of lunar desert; Palea Kameni, an island near a volcano; and Thirassia, which is a populated island where you can visit beautiful villages and beaches.

The former, ancient, island capitals ruins are just a short walk from Akrotiri. This city had the same fate as Pompeii; a huge volcanic eruption made the entire city disappear under the lava. But unlike Pompeii, there were no deaths. Fortunately, the residents noticed the eruption early enough to be able to escape to the sea in time. Today it’s truly fascinating to walk among the ruins of this city and admire the old houses, squares and buildings that have been preserved perfectly.