PHOTO: Volcano Caldera in Santorini, Greece, A Study in Blue and White

The volcano caldera in Santorini, a study in blue, black, and white, seen frm the village of Oia

The volcano caldera in Santorini is a study in blue, and white, with the ominous black volcano cone squatting in the center of the lagoon. Since the beginning of the Christian Era, the volcano has had eight eruption episodes, in 46-47, 726, 1570-1573, 1707-1711, 1866-1870, 1925-1928, 1939-1941, and 1950. Though the average number of years … Read more

PHOTO: The Beautiful Cave Architecture of Oia, Santorini

The blue domes and whitewashed houses in the village of Oia exhibit traditional construction methods known as the cave architecture of Santorini

This is the iconic photo that every visitor to Santorini wants to capture, the blue domes and whitewashed houses in the village of Oia, Santorini. While I found the scenery visually captivating, I was more curious about the history of the cave architecture of Santorini – how it came about and why it evolved in … Read more

Santorini Island: An Explosive Past, Present, and Future

Crowds clog stairway in the town of Oia on Santorini island

Throughout its history, Santorini island in Greece has been shaped by volcanism. The island first appeared about two-million years ago when volcanic craters emerged from the Aegean Sea. Initially, the craters united into a small round island with a caldera in the center. Herodotus tells us that the island’s first name, Strongili (meaning “the round … Read more

PHOTO: Little Venice in Mykonos Town, on the Greek island of Mykonos

The neighborhood known as Little Venice in Mykonos Town, on the Greek island of Mykonos

The cute neighborhood known as Little Venice in Mykonos Town is named for its unique houses, cafes, and shops, many of which jut out over the Aegean Sea. In centuries past, when seafaring was a major industry in the area, sea captains built grand mansions along this shoreline. Later, it was a favorite haunt of … Read more