The island of Santorini is part of Greece and it is located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea. It is a unique place that has been characterized as one of the top holiday destinations in the world. At its previous form, before the great volcanic eruption, it was round shaped. Today it constitutes a complex of five islands. Santorini is the largest among them and the others are Thirassia, Aspronissi and the volcanic islands of Palea and Nea Kameni.

The Minoan eruption, that took place about 3600 years ago, caused a series of huge volcanic explosions which changed the island’s landscape and now Santorini has a half moon shape . The same eruption formed the breathtaking cliffs called the Caldera, along with Black and Red volcanic beaches at the eastern side of the island. Another popular theory says that the Minoan eruption is the source of the legend of the Lost Atlantis .

The name Santorini was given by the Venetians who had conquered the island on the 12th century, after the 4th crusade. Before that it was known as Kallisti ( the most beautiful one ) or Strogili ( the circular one ) . The official name is Thira, named after the Spartan King Thiras who colonized the island on the 8th century BC. However, worldwide and in Greece, it is mostly known with the name Santorini.