Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

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Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby monik7 » Sat Oct 15, 2022 1:42 pm

We 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.
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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.
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Beds
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Many of the buildings were 3 stories high

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We then drove to Red Beach
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Megalachori is a traditional Greek village
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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.
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Sandi
Last edited by monik7 on Sat Oct 15, 2022 2:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby OregonLuvr » Sat Oct 15, 2022 1:52 pm

You are having the trip of a lifetime. I cannot believe the devastation they have preserved. And those sunsets are awesome.
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby Cudedog » Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:11 pm

Herculaneum and Akrotiri are two of the many places in that area of the world that I have always wanted to visit. I doubt that I ever will have the opportunity, so thank you, Sandi, for taking us all along for the ride.

Best wishes and safe travels.

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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby Shirlv » Sat Oct 15, 2022 8:23 pm

Sandi, thanks for the amazing pictures. Think they will bring out the artist in you.
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby Bethers » Sat Oct 15, 2022 9:51 pm

Wow! I love that they are preserving everything. And another wow for those sunsets. What an amazing trip you're having.
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby snowball » Sat Oct 15, 2022 10:55 pm

it's so amazing what lies underground... thank you for sharing your pictures and that sunset was beautiful
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby asirimarco » Sun Oct 16, 2022 12:49 pm

Great pictures. Makes me want to go there.
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby JudyJB » Sun Oct 16, 2022 5:47 pm

Akrotiri looks terrific. I was there in May, 2005, and it was covered, but with a much rougher and smaller roof. Then in September 2005, the whole roof collapsed, killing one tourist and injuring several other people. Apparently, they had covered the roof with soil and grass to make it blend in, and workers were watering it when it fell down. We were lucky to have seen it because they had to close the whole site for seven years until they cleaned up the mess and built a better roof, so that was in 2012!!

Here is an article about the collapse: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/greek-archaeological-site-roof-collapses.77402

You are lucky to see it now because they have said they have done a lot more uncovering the town and restoration of the place. And I would really like to go back someday--if only I had the money to go everywhere I want to go!! :(
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Re: Santorini-Akrotiri, Red Beach, Megalachori, Sunset

Postby BarbaraRose » Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:27 am

I love the photo of the white tower with the bells in it! The photo with the windmills had a wall that looks like it has lots of different sized holes in it. Looks really cool! The architecture there is amazing!
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