The famous island of Santorini is found 300 kilometers southeast of Athens, in the Cyclades. Besides being one of the most Instagrammed locations in Greece and in all the world, Santorini is known for its caldera – a volcanic crater and 300-meter-tall walls that rise from the sea. Because of its volcanic past, the island of Santorini has a rainbow of colors in its cliffs, which are caused by deposits of volcanic rock.
Santorini’s Volcano
The famous eruption in Santorini was in 1600 BC. The impacts were felt across the Aegean, as it caused a 150-meter tsunami to reach Crete, which brought an end to the Minoan civilization.
Today, the soil of Santorini is porous and retains water well even in dry spells. This makes the island of Santorini perfect for grape production. At the same time, the eruption preserved viniculture from the Bronze Age, which shows that wine has been produced in the area for at least 3,600 years.
The volcanic soil is the perfect bed for colorful flowers, grasses, and brush. To notice the details, you have to take a drive around the island because you can’t see the wildflowers all the way from a boat when you dock in Thira.
Santorini’s Colorful Beaches
The beaches of Santorini come in a variety of colors. Red Beach, White Beach, and Black Beach are some of the best-known attractions. The colorful array is a result of hardened lava. The current color depends on the layer of rock which is open to the air.
For example, Red Beach indicates that there is a lot of iron in the area, which was deposited by the iron-rich lava. White Beach is next to Red Beach and is only reachable by boat. The grey volcanic grains of sand make a stong contrast compared to the blue of the Mediterranean. Black Beach is just one of the black sand beaches on Santorini, and it was also created during the eruption.
Some experts say that when the lava entered the sea, it created basalt fragments that created the black beach in a very short amount of time. Other scientists say that the island was covered in ash and lava after the eruption, which then mixed with the sand and created the dark hue. When you travel to Santorini, you have to see Perissa, Perivolos, and Kamari beaches.
Santorini’s Colorful Architecture
Similarly, the buildings of Santorini are colorful, drawing inspiration from the surrounding colors of the soil and sand. Of course, Santorini has some of the most white buildings in Greece. Most buildings have the typical white and blue Cyclades style, which has been a tradition since the military junta made the colors mandatory in the early 1970s. Today, the white and blue hues are no longer a mandate, but is common in the Cyclades for touristic reasons. Aside from the classic blue and white, an array of bright colors are scattered around the island. The town of Oia is dotted with light blue and salmon pink.
Santorini’s Colorful Sunsets
The best place to watch the sunset on Santorini is from the harbor in Amoudi, away from the crowds you will find on the cliffs above. Amoudi is 1 kilometer down a steep path from Oia. While you watch the sun dropping to the horizon, you can enjoy a meal at a fish taverna and view the cliffs as they start to glow. It’s the perfect spot to toast the volcano that made the island such a colorful place.
