To the volcano

To the volcano

Greece
Aegean Sea
Cyklades
Santorini

Santorini has always been the island of controversies. Tourists agencies try, justifiably, to attribute its excessive beauty on aspects that usually match for many other Greek islands but not at all to her and very little to the rest of the Cyklades complex in Aegean Sea. The beauty of Santorini is neither the green of flora nor the lengthy sandy shores that call for relaxation and suntan in other islands. Santorini and the rest of the Cyklades are, according to mythology, "just rocks thrown by Zeus to the sea from the heights of Olympus, to cut down the wild immensity of the bare sea" as also our poets put it in their verses... All the islands of the Cyklades complex are volcanic having suffered a lot from this particularity through the many ages of their long history. Especially Santorini houses the great volcano whose major eruption in 1650 BC caused extended destruction reaching even the shores of Crete and eliminating the thriving Minoan civilization.( THe disapearence of the legendary continent Atlantis is thought to have been a consequence of this eruption).
Santorini is a massive rock of tough volcanic earth with steep cliffs hanging over a haunty black sea described for its bottomless depth and with very few and not at all fetching beaches covered with volcanic black sand. On the top of these steep cliffs are located the very picturesque towns with Oia the most beautiful and most photographed of all! No relation with colours at all!.. In the little bare island close to her is the historic volcano that from time to time roars menacingly.
Do all these consist a beauty?
Yes, and a very special one. With just a bit of advise. Disconnect the island from any longing desire for sandy and lonely peaceful beaches. And avoid visiting the island during July-August unless you are a happy teenager.. In any other case you may end wishing not to come back a second time!

In the photo view of the volcanic rock with the town of foira on top.