HISTORY: Santorini's wild beauty and volcaniclandscape distinguish it from the rest of theCyclades. Its present shape is what remainedafter the sinking of the Kaldera (crater ói the(now extinct) volcano, which is encircled by the islets of Thirasia and Áspronisi. In antiquity it was called Strongyli (round) ot Kallisti (most beautiful) and was first settled by Phoenicians.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, it flourishedduring the early Cycladic. period and afterwards,as shown by the excavations at Akrotiri. All its prosperity came to an end however, with the eruption of the volcano around 1600 BC. At the start of the first millennium Dorian colonists settled there and the island took a new name,

Thera, after their leader. Subsequently special contacts were developed with Cyprus, Crete,Asia Minor and several regions on the Greek mainland. Allied with Spárta until 426 BC when the island Íoined the Athenian Confederacy, it was used as a refuge from the Ptolemies because of its location, falling into decline dur- ing the Roman era. Its strategic location was again of importance during the Byzantine Empire. From 1207 it belonged to the Dukes of Naxos and was governed by a series of Venetian lords (Barozzi, Crispo, Pisani). Despite its good fortifications, it still suffered frequent pirate raids. It was ceded to losiph Nazis and in 1579 fell to the Turks. In 1821 it took an active part in the Revolution and shipping brought it considerable prosperity in the later l9th century The long Latin occupation left its mark on the political and economic organization of the island and Western influence can also.be seen in the large numbers of Catholics among the population.

SIGHTSEEING: Fira, the island's capital, is built along the upper $slopes of the west coast. It is linked to the harbour by a steep, stepped road and by cable car, from which one has a superb view over the harbour and shoreline. Its houses are built in a style unique to the island. Small,darlingly white, with numerous windows and vaulted roofs they present a stunning picture, in which the larger mansions and the Archaeological Museum stand out. At the Dominican monastery there is á weaving school and cultural centre. The Catholic cathedral is located near the monastery while the Orthodox cathedral is in the southern part of town. The aristocratic families used to live at Imerovigli where there are ruins of old mansions and the monastery of Agios Nikolaos (1674). Skaros is the site of one of the islands most important fortresses. Abandoned in the 17th century this was the mediaeval capital. From Fira Bay one can take trips .to the volcano, Nea Kammeni and Old Kammeni, where there are hot springs:Akrotiri in the southern tip of the island was the site of the prehistoric city of Thera. Excavations have brought to light an entire city with houses,.streets, squares and workshops.that churches of the Virgin stin Trypa and Agia Anna as is Pyrgos with its Byzantine church Theotakaki (l0th c.).. At Mesa Gonia, another Byzantine church the 11th century Episkopi, containing valuable icons and distinctive frescoes has been preserved. The monastery of Prophitis Eliás (l8th c.) has a collection of holy treasures and also operates a folk museum and icon·painting studio. At Mepalohori are the ruins collapsed when the. volcano erupted. At the village named La Ponte by the Venetians are the ruins of another fortified castle, with two churches. Mesa Vouno, on the other hand is the site of ancient Thera.. Here one can see the ruins of the agora, theatre, public and private buildings, but of the.finds an Archaic clay idol, completely intact, is the most impressive. The village of Vothonas is very picturesque with its of a little 3rd century BC temple. la and Finikia on the north ridge of the island are two of Santorini's most attractive settlements, their white washed houses a brilliant contrast to their vividly painted vaulted roofs. Most of the beaches on Santorini have black sand and pumice pebbles, a result of their volcanic origin., Kamari and Perissá are among the best. Though the south coast lends. itself better to swimming and water sports, there are beaches in the north at la, Ammoudi and Armeni. Small boats leave la for excursions to the islet of Thirasia opposite.