What do Greeks call Santorini?
What do Greeks call Santorini? Santorini (Greek: Sa?t?????, pronounced [sado'rini]), officially Thira (Greek: T??a Greek pronunciation: ['?ira]) and Classical Greek Thera (English pronunciation /'???r?/), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from the Greek mainland.
Why is Santorini blue?
The reason behind this color choice has to do with practicality. In the old times, Greek housewives would use a cleaning agent called loulaki (blue powder in English) which came in the form of talcum powder. It was widely and cheaply available across Greece.
Is it Thera or Santorini?
The name Thera was revived in the nineteenth century as the official name of the island and its main city, but the colloquial name Santorini is still in popular use. Thera is the ancient name and it was called like this because of Theras, the leader of the Spartans who colonized it, and gave his name to the island.
Is Fira also called Thira?
Fira, sometimes spelt 'Thira,' is the capital of the Greek island of Santorini. If you've seen photos of Santorini in the past, with its whitewashed rectangular buildings overlooking the contrasting, rich blue hues of the Mediterranean – well, then, this is where you can find that same enchanting scenery.
What do the locals call Santorini?
After the liberation of Greece in 1821, the name 'Thira' was established as the official name of the island. In spite of this, maps abroad had the island marked as 'Santa Irina'. Until today Greeks still refer to the island as Santorini.
Is Santorini the same as Thira?
Santorini, known since ancient times as Thira, is one of the most famous islands in the world. The fact that you can sit in front of the caldera, enjoy local dishes, a drink or a coffee while gazing at the remarkable beauty of an active volcano is priceless!
Do they speak Greek in Santorini?
There is some basic information you need to know before you visit Santorini. The official language is Greek but the majority of people can hold proper conversations in English and are friendly and eager to help.
What is the nickname of Santorini?
The island’s nickname is the wine island. The excavations at the site of Akrotiri have proved that wine making and trading used to be among the most important activities for prehistoric locals.
Why Santorini is so special?
First of all, Santorini is a natural wonder of the world. Its world famous volcano, which constitutes a magnificent sight and attraction of Santorini, formed the island and gave it its current shape and geomorphology by a massive volcanic eruption, thousands of years ago.
Why is Santorini all white?
At the beginning of the 20th century, during the war, serious deceases, like cholera, plagued the Greek islands. Whitewash is a cheap, disinfectant material that was used regularly to limit the contagion. Back to that era, it was probably the most effective or even the only medium available for disinfection.