Archaeological Site of Akrotiri, Santorini

Akrotiri in Santorini

Located near the southern horn of Santorini, the ancient town of Akrotiri is also known as the “Minoan Pompeii”, is one of the places you should not miss when visiting Santorini. The town was frozen in time at around 1450 B.C. by the local volcano’s eruption.

In the 1860s people working to quarry volcanic ash for building the Suez Canal discovered the remains of the ancient city. In 1967 a professor from the University of Athens, Spiros Marinatos (who is burried beside one of the ancient walls, as he died in a fall at the site) began excavations in Akrotiri.

The 40 building unearthed so far are thought to represent only 1/30th of the site of Akrotiri.

After paying the entrance fee (6€) visitors enter the site along the main street. They now can enjoy the sites of the ancient commercial town, which reached its peak after 2000 B.C. The jars used to store products (called pithoi) still bare remains of olive oil, fish and onion.

Near the exit there is the plaza where the visitor of Akrotiri can see the magnificent two stories buildings. Unfortunately the frescoes are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens and not on site.

You can get around easily on the site because there are descriptive plates in four languages and the site will keep you busy for at least one hour.