Santorini I

The island complex of Santorini lies in the south end of the Aegean Sea. It is the southwest complex of Cyclades and consists of the island of Thira, Thirassia and Aspronhsi.

Santorini is after Vesuvius one of the most and best studied volcanoes as very seldom in the construction of a complex a volcano appears so clearly. A tragic irony in the geophysical history of Santorini is that the great destruction, lost in the centuries speeds today its incomparable beauty everywhere. To get aware of it one has to tour the caldera from which he will see its deep blue waters and in a height 200-300 meters the dark colored walls of caldera. The different colors of volcanic sand and different kinds of lava are very distinct because of their colors which vary from red to braon and black.

Different geological researches in Greece have proved that in that place of Aegean Sea of today there was a snore that connected Greece with the minor Asian and Crete.

The activity of the volcano didn’t stop exist.

Nowadays the volcano is quite calm. In many a place we can distinguish hot vapours and sulphur from which are formed crystals at Sulphur.

The whole history of the island is involved with its volcanic activity. This activity has formated Santorini throughout the centuries until its nowadays shape and geological structure.

Today, seven craters are located on the Nea Kameni island and one crater on palea Kameni island, just in the middle of caldera. The craters are still smoking even today. This continious gas expansion decreases the possibility of volcanic eruptions.

The main characteristic of Santorini's architecture is the "dug-in buildings", buildings that are constructed into the tephran earth, the tephra. The typical "dug-in house" is characterized by a narrow facade and is very deep lengthwise. At the front of the house we find the living room and at the back, the bedroom.

The ground in Santorini, as well as the ground of the most Cyclades islands is rocky.
But its volcanic structure makes it really productive, especially for some product, that are derived exclusively in Santorini.
Those special and peculiar products are:

Wine (the famous Vinsanto)

Arid Tomatoes, cherry tomatoes of Santorini is a special agricultural product with great history. tomato is a characteristic products of Santorini and has a factory pelte cooperative of Santorini, which gives hope for the future. From tomato besides pelte made pentanostimes fresh salads, but also its famous tomato-balls (tomatokeftedes).

Sprit Peas (Fava) -the Fava of Santorini is the most important products of the island.
The traditional methods of treatment, give the fava of Santorini authenticity and taste specificity!

White Egg is a traditional crop of Santorini. Because of the land's specifications is not bitter like other eggplants. Instead it is sweet and juicy.

Katsouni is like a cucumber, but larger and thicker having lighter color. If the farmer will not cut it at the appropriate time, it change its color and become yellow and tastes very sweet as the melon.