Greece
Santorini
Welcome to Santorini! This dazzling Greek island is famous for its whitewashed houses and bright blue domes perched high above a deep blue sea.
Why is it special?
Its clifftop villages, with snow-white buildings and blue-domed churches, look like something from a fairy tale.
Travelers come from all over the world to watch its famous sunsets.
How was it formed?
Long ago, a massive volcanic eruption caused the center of the island to collapse into the sea, forming a huge round bay called a caldera.
Later, people built their white houses right along the steep cliffs left behind by that ancient eruption.
Amazing facts
Santorini's volcano erupted so powerfully about 3,600 years ago that it may have inspired old legends about a lost island.
The white walls help reflect the hot Greek sun and keep homes cool inside.
Quick facts
- Santorini's volcano erupted so powerfully about 3,600 years ago that it may have inspired old legends about a lost island.
- The white walls help reflect the hot Greek sun and keep homes cool inside.
- The famous blue domes were traditionally painted that color to match the sky and sea.
- The island's cliffs rise as high as 1,000 feet straight up from the water.