Sightseeing guide for Santorini 
Sights and attractions in Santorini
Santorini is considered to be one of the most beautiful islands of Greece and gets top billing among the 3 most famous island destinations in Europe. It was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions which affected the whole Aegean sea and even the coasts of Crete. The original name of Santorini was Kallisti, which means the most beautiful, and Strogyli which means round. The inhabitation of the island starts before the 16th century BC, when the Minoans settled on it. Since then Santorini became an important trade centre of the Minoans. The world famous settlement of Akrotiri dates back to the Minoan era. Around 1550 - 1500 B.C. a violent volcanic explosion caused the submergence of the central part of Santorini, creating the Caldera and the 2 smaller islands in the Caldera, Thirasia and Nea Kameni, where the top of the volcano is found. After the Fall of Constantinople, Santorini came under the Venetian rule and by this time the island was named Santorini, after Santa Irini. For the next 6 centuries the island came under the rule of the Duke of Naxos, and the Othomans until it joined the Greek Republic. In 1956, Santrorini suffered another severe volcanic eruption which destroyed completely many of the villages and caused severe problems to the others. However the island managed to rebuild and develop one of the most popular cultural destinations in the world.Popular sights you should visit during your stay in Santorini.
The volcano
There are everyday cruises to the volcano and the hot springs where guests can swim. Boats to the volcano leave every morning from Athinios port or from Fira's old port and the usual route is climbing the volcano, stoping at the hot springs for swimming, a stop of about 2 hours at Thirasia for swimming or lunch and return Santorini. The cost is about 20 to 25€ according to the route. Children under 12 years old pay a reduced price. If you decide to depart from Fira's old port you can walk down to the port for about 45min on a rough route, or choose between taking the cable car, which run every 15 minutes from 7:30 am to 9:00pm or riding a mule. Both the mule riding and the cable car cost about 3.5€.Santorini Akrotiri settlement: Akrotiri: tel +302286081366
tickets: Special ticketing package for the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Prehistoric Thira and the Archaeological Sites of Akrotiri and Ancient Thira: € 8 (reduced: € 4).Akrotiri is located south of Fira, near the village of Akrotiri. It is one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean as the very first habitation dates back to the late Neolithic era. The large extent of the settlement, the elaborate drainage system, the multi-storeyed buildings with the extraordinary wall-paintings, furniture and vessels, show its great development and prosperity. Akrotiri was in contact with other regions such as Crete, the Greek Mainland, the Dodecanese, Cyprus, Syria and Egypt. Severe earthquakes and the volcano explosion which followed signaled the end of the settlement, in the last quarter of the 17th century BC. The volcanic materials which covered the entire island and the town itself have protected up to date the buildings and their contents, just like in Pompei.