Details

Houses perched on top of 300 m (980 ft) cliffs in the city of Fira on Santorini (Thera) Island in the Mediterranean Sea. The cliffs show the many layers of past volcanic eruptions. In ancient times, the island was called "Thera." In the 14th century it was named "Santorini" – in honor of Saint Irene – by the feudal crusader Latin Empire. It was renamed "Thera" in the 19th century but is still commonly called "Santorini." Fira is the principal city on the island. Santorini Island is the southernmost of the Greek Cyclades.