Near the southern coast of the island of Santorini lies the village of Akrotiri, 9 kilometers from Fira (the capital).
The village of Akrotiri has a charming church and the most important archaeological site on the island of Santorini, considered by some to be part of the lost continent of Atlantis.
This calm village is ideal for walking while you admire the ancient fortress that dominates it and devastated by the earthquake of 1956. From Akrotiri you can enjoy a splendid view of the caldera, especially at sunset, and on the vineyards that stretch for miles along the points highest in the island of Santorini.
The archaeological site of Akrotiri is one of the most important prehistoric settlements not only of the island of Santorini but of all the islands of the Aegean Sea.
How can you reach this very important archaeological site?
To get there by car from Fira, head south towards Perissa and go past the junction for Athinios and the one for Pyrgos. After about 10 kilometers take the road to the right in the direction of Akrotiri and a little further on is a small country church from which a road leads to the Caldera. Following the road it is sufficient to pass the fork that leads to the village of Akrotiri on the right. The archaeological site of Akortiri is located a few kilometers south of the town of the same name, along the road that leads to Red Beach, the most famous of the beaches of Santorini.
To get there by public bus it is necessary to know that Akrotíri is served in July-August by several day and night buses from Fira and some pass every half hour, others every hour. In low season there is a run every hour from 9am to 8.30pm. From Akrotiri there are frequent connections also with Perissa.
And now let's discover something more about the most important and unmissable archaeological site of the island of Santorini!
The first remains of the archaeological area of Akrotiri were discovered by chance in 1866 by some miners who worked in the quarries of the area during the construction of the Suez Canal, in Egypt. At first, no one thought it was a very relevant discovery. Some French volcanologists and historians began to dig, bringing to light some finds, but were unable to understand what they had found.
Almost a century later, the importance of the Akrotiri site was deepened by Professor Spyridōn Marinatos, who after carrying out excavation campaigns in various parts of Greece reached the island of Santorini in 1962 in favor of the Archaeological Society of Athens. Marinatos hoped to prove his theories, published in 1939 (The volcanic destruction of the Minoan Crete, in Antiquity), that the eruption of the Thira volcano was the cause of the decline and consequent disappearance of the Minoan civilization.
To be open to the public, it took a long time, but April 12, 2012 (only a few years ago) that day has finally arrived!
What you can admire today is a set of 40 buildings (which represent only a thirtieth of all that is still submerged) and in excellent condition unlike many other archaeological sites. But how did he get to us so intact? Akrotiri was completely submerged by a layer of ash and pumice of over 30 meters due to the eruption of 1627 BC, and it was this that did not allow the degradation of the site. Among the 12 thousand square meters of ruins some warehouses have been identified containing terracotta pots with traces of olive oil, fish and onions. Impressive multi-storey buildings with magnificent frescoes, furniture and vases, all bearing witness to the great development of society. It must be said that the Akrotiri frescoes are among the oldest examples of wall painting in Europe. Most of these frescoes are preserved in different museums: at the Prehistoric Museum of Fira, at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens and at the Santozeum Museum in Fira, where it is possible to see the complete reconstruction of all the frescoes found in Akrotiri.
The presence of very few jewels and other precious jewels, as well as the failure to find petrified bodies confirms the thesis that the city was not caught by surprise and that, therefore, its more than 30,000 inhabitants were not surprised by the eruption of the volcano.
The urban settlement was well organized, with a sewer system running under the road surface. There were also several public buildings for civil and religious activities. Each building had toilets both on the ground floor and on the first floor.
Many call Akrotiri the "Greek Pompeii" for very similar modes of destruction. Regarding its population, it is assumed that the inhabitants were not only farmers, artisans, fishermen, livestock breeders but also sailors and merchants. Many of them were originally from Crete, but it is not certain that Akrotiri was a Cretan colony, although it certainly represented a place of exchange and stationing.
And how can we admire it today?
At the moment the site is preserved under an excellent construction of wood and glass that preserves it from the winter weather, but above all from everything that could little by little destroy what with so much effort has been brought to light after centuries. Inside you walk among the archaeological remains thanks to the walkways that offer excellent observation points, all in a fresh environment and covered by the hot summer sun.
It must be said, however, that there is still a lot to discover: 25 years ago the successor of Marinatos, Professor Doumas, stated that it would take 100 years to bring it all to light! A suggestion to the interested ones, or rather two: go to the archaeological site of Akrotiri after visiting the prehistoric Museum of Fira, you will have a way to better understand what you are admiring and book a guide in Italian at the ticket office (it will be useful to better understand the site of Akrotiri which reserves many surprises beyond what you can see with your eyes).
This site is of historical importance and should not be underestimated. Visiting it will be a unique experience for you that will help you to understand many aspects of the history and culture of the beautiful island of Santorini, which is not only white and blue houses, it is not just sunsets fantastic, but so much more!
To organize you in the best way we leave you below the times and the costs of entry:
Full ticket € 12 - Reduced ticket € 6
Special full ticket € 14* -
Special reduced ticket € 7*
Opening: Until October 15th, every day from 08.00 to 18.30
* The special ticket has a duration of 4 days and includes admission to the following museums and archaeological sites: Ancient Fira, Akrotiri, Archaeological Museum of Fira, Prehistoric Museum of Fira, Collection of Icons and Ecclesiastical Artifacts in Pyrgos