Tag: amazing_greece
Santorini caldera
The volcanic eruption in Santorini created a caldera that literally sink the most part of island and created a giant lagoon in the middle. A caldera is formed after large volumes of magma erupt. Then the support to the ground is lost and this leads to the collapse of the surface. In Santorini's case the caldera is filled with sea water. As the magma from the volcano flows to the surface, it builds up to form cones of material. In the center of this lagoon two small islands emerged as a result of this volcanic activity. The islands Kameni and Nea Kameni are only the visible cones while there are many other hidden beneath the sea.
Santorini
An old cathedral in the village of Perissa, gave the name Santorini, to the island. The passing Frank crusades in the 13th century used to stop for supplies near to the church of Saint Irini. So they started to refer to the island as 'santa irina', which contracted later to the name as we know it today, Santorini. Before the great volcano eruption the island was completely round, so Greeks named it Strongili which means 'the circular'. The beauty of Santorini was recognized from Ancient Greeks when it took its current shape after the eruption, amd they named it Kallisti, which means 'the most beautiful'.
Santorini
Around 1610 BC, a complete round island in the middle of the aegean sea was devastated from one of the most massive volcanic eruptions recorded in human history. This eruption created a giant caldera covering an area more than 80 square kilometers. This event led to the fall of the great Minoan civilization while some researchers believe that it was the cause of most of the biblical plagues, strongly connected with the Exodus of Israelites from Egypt. Today, what remains from that round island is the most popular touristic destination in Greece. The island of Santorini gets more than 2 million visitors every year which roughly amounts to the 10% of total tourists visiting Greece.
Monastery of St. George Selinari
The monastery of Saint George at Selinari is located on the national road connecting Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos. Cretans believe that it is bad luck to pass by this monastery and don't pay a visit. This conception probably emerged as the monastery was the only inhabited place that could offer rest and cool water to travelers back in the old days before highways were built. There is also a popular Cretan song saying that "When you are passing by Malia, on your way to Selinari, light up a candle for the grace of Saint George"
Knossós, Iraklion, Greece
When Daedalus was ordered by King Minos to build the great labyrinth to keep inside the Minotaur (the half bull half man creature) he was not aware that the plan of Minos was to shut him up in a tower to prevent the path of the labyrinth to be spread to the public. Daedalus, which was a great craftsman, created artificial wings for himself and his son Icarus, also prisoner in the tower. The wings were made by feathers and strings while they were glued together using wax. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high because the heat from the sun will melt the wax and destroy the wings. Icarus, which was a young boy, amazed by the ability to fly, soon forgot the warnings of his father and flew higher and higher until the feathers came of. Daedalus who saw his son to be drawned in the aegean sea named the nearest island, Icaria in memory of his child.
Réthimnon, Greece
The old town of Rethimno, is the best preserved old town of Crete. It was build by Venetian and locals today inhabit the same structures built at that era. Walking around the narrow alleys of old town is a great experience as at the same time you can visit the local souvenir shops, eat in beautiful decorated taverns and have a chance to pick a look inside local people homes and yards through the open windows and doors
Lake Kournas
Being at Kournas' lake always makes me feel different. I don't know if it's the water, or the nature with all the birds, the ducks and the turtles, or the landscape that reminds the wildness of a deserted island from a movie. Maybe it's the calm of floating on the lake with a small sea bike and hear nothing except the sounds of nature
