Santorini offers visitors with one of the most distinctive images of Greece, that of the white washed buildings and their blue domed roofs. The island is known for its spectacular sunsets, which feature on many tourist postcards of the island. If its beauty encourages those to book holidays walking in Greece’s most serene isle, it is perhaps this beauty that lent to it the legend that Santorini was the original Atlantis.
The mythical island of Atlantis has been thought to be in many different places from the Arctic to Japan. However, as it was Plato, the Greek philosopher, who first mentioned Atlantis in his writings, many people believe that the mythical land of Atlantis is in fact Santorini. Plato’s description of Atlantis submerging into the water appears in his infamous dialogs –Critias and Timaeus. Plato described Atlantis as a circular island inhabited by immensely talented people, who were highly civilised and very prosperous. The island was described as being located between the Pillars of Hercules, which adds more fuel to the theory that Santorini was in fact Atlantis. It isn’t just locals that are keen to extol the legend that Santorini may in fact be Atlantis, but geological and archaeological excavations have all shed some evidence on this theory.
Santorini is a volcanic island and when walking in Greece you will get the opportunity to explore the amazing Santorini volcano up close. The volcano is known as Caldera and visitors can take a daily cruise, which allows them to climb the black volcanic walls of the volcano. The island has two other volcanoes, Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. Palea Kameni is the oldest volcano on the island and is known for its stunning hot springs. These springs are perfect for relaxing in and the water is said to have healing properties. These volcanoes helped geologists determine that Santorini has always been prone to volcanic activity and this may have caused the island to submerge.
Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that gifted people had lived on the island since 1300BC. In fact, Minoan paintings and Bronze Age implements actually show that gifted people may have occupied the island even before that date. If you take a visit to the Archaeological Museum in Fira, you’ll be able to look at the evidence yourself. As well as carrying out analysis of items found on the island, archaeologists carried out radiometric analysis to discover when the last explosion took place. They found out that it occurred between 1615 and 1645, 1020 years after Plato died, showing that the island may have been reborn after earlier submerging into the sea as Atlantis.
Whether you believe that evidence or not, you’re certain to have an excellent holiday walking in Greece’s sunset island. The food in Santorini is amongst the best in Greece and one of the highlights of your trip is bound to be enjoying souvlaki in a traditional taverna, where Greek waiters show off their dance moves and refill your glasses with grappa. The scenic island also offers stunning walks around the orchid covered mainlands. So submerge yourself on the Santorini holiday and rediscover a hidden paradise.
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