One day in about 1500 BC, the peaceful volcano underneath the beautiful –and then round- island of Santorini, erupted. The island caved on itself, forming the current caldera and offering the perfect soil for growing grapes.

How to Get to Akrotiri

The archeological site of Akrotiri is located right near the modern settlement with the same name. Perched on top of the caldera, the road to the archeological site is magnificent: curves after curves –some which seem really impossible to negotiate-, passing by the wine yards and offering great views of the harbor.

Akrotiri

The inhabitants of the Minoan settlement of Akrotiri here had been warned and managed to flee with their possessions. However no one knows where they fled or if they survived. Akrotiri is nicknamed “Minoan Pompeii” but unlike Pompeii, no human remains have been found here.

Visitors enter Akrotiri along the main street. On both sides there are warehouse and stores, where large jars –called pithoi- were found, most with traces of fish and olive oil inside. The triangular plaza –located right near the exit- offer the most spectacular image of this ancient town: buildings rising two stories up and creating a really spacious gathering place.

The covered remains of the village are very quiet. All around the archeological site, the walls are brown inclosing small rooms which don’t have any details. Most of the walls are half-height. The frescoes and the artifacts –such as figurines or jars – have been moved to the museums on the island. Some pithoi can still be seen at Akrotiri.

Only 40 buildings have been uncovered at Akrotiri. It’s thought that they represent 1/30th of the huge site. Archeologists estimated that it would take almost a century to uncover the entire site.

Opening Hours and Tickets

The Archeological site is opened from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8:30 AM to 3 PM but the opening hours might be extended during the summer, so make sure to ask locally before you decide to visit the site. Due to continued excavations, some parts of the site might be closed. The site is enclosed and it can get pretty hot during summer. If possible try to visit early in the morning.

A ticket costs €6, but the best option is to get a special ticket which covers the admission to Akrotiri, the Archaeological Museum in Thira, the Museum of Prehistoric Thira, and Ancient Thira.

Note: The site , which has been closed since 2008 due to the roof collapsing, has been re-opened as of April 2012.