Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset
Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2022 1:42 pmWe are still on Santorini. Today we took a drive to Akrotiri, often called the Pompeii of the Aegean. The location of the town was ideal, as it served as a safe port and thus it developed an important commerce activity. The urban planning was dense, the buildings had many stores, the walls were decorated with amazing frescoes, the streets were paved and there were also squares and storehouses. The frescoes depict a rich middle society, where people were dressed luxuriously and elegantly.
The enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the settlement of Akrotiri took place around 1,650 B.C. The entire town was covered with ashes and lava, which preserved Akrotiri almost intact through time. As no human bodies have been found covered by lava, as is the case in Pompeii, archaeologists believe that precursory earthquakes made the residents leave before the volcano erupted. Also, not many valuable items were excavated, which shows that between the earthquakes and the big volcanic eruption, the residents had returned to take their personal belongings.
Ready to take a walk through very ancient Akrotiri. What I really liked about this archaeological site is the fact that since 2012 it’s been covered to protect it from the elements.
Beds
Many of the buildings were 3 stories high
We then drove to Red Beach
Megalachori is a traditional Greek village
Santorini can get rather windy and dating as far back as the 14th century residents harnessed that energy to grind flour. Today, a handful of windmills still remain on the island, though many have since been converted into housing and holiday rentals. Most of the Santorini windmills that remain to this day were constructed from the 17th-century onward, with many of the converted accommodations dating from the 18th-century.
Our last sunset on Santorini as we leave tomorrow for Athens.
Sandi
The enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the settlement of Akrotiri took place around 1,650 B.C. The entire town was covered with ashes and lava, which preserved Akrotiri almost intact through time. As no human bodies have been found covered by lava, as is the case in Pompeii, archaeologists believe that precursory earthquakes made the residents leave before the volcano erupted. Also, not many valuable items were excavated, which shows that between the earthquakes and the big volcanic eruption, the residents had returned to take their personal belongings.
Ready to take a walk through very ancient Akrotiri. What I really liked about this archaeological site is the fact that since 2012 it’s been covered to protect it from the elements.
Beds
Many of the buildings were 3 stories high
We then drove to Red Beach
Megalachori is a traditional Greek village
Santorini can get rather windy and dating as far back as the 14th century residents harnessed that energy to grind flour. Today, a handful of windmills still remain on the island, though many have since been converted into housing and holiday rentals. Most of the Santorini windmills that remain to this day were constructed from the 17th-century onward, with many of the converted accommodations dating from the 18th-century.
Our last sunset on Santorini as we leave tomorrow for Athens.
Sandi
