Cyclades is the most famous group of islands in the Aegean and includes some of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean! The charming white and blue colored Cycladic architecture, the traditional lifestyle, island songs, warm hospitality, the land with no vegetation dotted by deserted country chapels, an amazing coastline and excellent sandy beaches all form a harmonious blend, making a trip to Cyclades truly unique.

Today, millions of Greekand foreign travelers visit the Cyclades islands, looking for bright sunlight and clear blue waters to create their own version of a magical holiday. One island that really needs no introduction is Santorini. Santorini is one of the best known Greek islands the world over. It is in itself a unique geological phenomenon, as today’s island is what has remained of the initial island, Strongyli (meaning Round), which sunk to the bottom of the sea following an eruption of its volcano during the 16th century B.C.

This has been one of the most powerful eruptions in the history of Earth: three quarters of the island were submerged, shaping today’s Caldera. Santorini’s Caldera is one of the most photographed spots of the Mediterranean. This is also the location of some of Santorini's hotels with views of the caldera are located.  Furthermore, the major aftermath of that eruption was the destruction of the Minoan Palaces in Crete. Santorini’s area is 73 sq. km, its coastal length is 69.5 km and there are 13,670 residents. Santorini is the southernmost island in the Cyclades group. The island of Santorini is actually a group of islands comprised of Thira, Thirasia, Aspronisi, Palaia Kameni and Nea Kameni (Kameni meaning burned). The island’s architectural heritage is preserved remarkably well in Fira and Oia as well as in other inland villages.

An important prehistoric civilisation thrived on the island, mainly during the Middle Cycladic Period, and was destroyed by the volcanic eruption. In time, the island was repopulated and it flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman times. Later on the Venetians took the island over and remained there for centuries. Over the last decades, Santorini has known a massive tourism growth, made easy but the cheap flights arriving on the island with ease. You can easily get from Athens to Santorini, from Mykonos to Santorini and once on the island there are buses, taxis, coaches and rental cars to get you from Santorini airport to Oia.


While the island has increased in tourism, it has remained as appealing as ever, with secrets and places of unspoiled natural beauty yet to be explored, not to mention the lovely sunset for which Santorini has been renowned across the planet. Santorini is not expenisive as some perseve it to be. There are plenty of things to do and plenty of places to stay all in varying budgets.

Local wine is famous and the island’s vineyards have been producing it since antiquity. The grape varieties grown here are Asyrtiko, Athiri, Aidani, Mandilaria (red) and Mavrotragano (red). The quality of Vinsanto wine is exceptional and it is produced by mixing two varieties: Asyrtiko and Aidani.