About Oia
Oia, formerly Apano Meria, retains its historic name and residents are still known as Apanomerites.
The ancient Oia served as a harbor of Thera, and was located where Kamari stands.
The people of Oia were always occupying themselves with maritime activities and winemaking, since the Aegean sea always provided for emporium.
The ancient Oia served as a harbor of Thera, and was located where Kamari stands.
The people of Oia were always occupying themselves with maritime activities and winemaking, since the Aegean sea always provided for emporium.
Castle of Oia
The upper side is strategically located on top of the cliff to deter pirate raids. The Venetian Castle of Oia was constructed in the late 15th century as a defense against piracy, a significant threat to Mediterranean coastal communities at the time.
Oia flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, driven by its merchant fleet's trade in the Eastern Mediterranean as trade stop from Alexandria to Russia. In 1890, Oia boasted approximately 2,500 residents and 130 sailing ships.
Oia's two distinctive styles
The architecture of Oia village exhibits two distinctive styles: the elegant captains' houses, known as kapetanospita with their distinctive wine cellars the renowned canaves, and the charming cave houses, also called hyposkafa.
The captains’ houses were built and inhabited by the wealthy residents of the villages who were the ship owners. They have neoclassical elements mixed with the local tradition and they had prominent views, large rooms, small gardens, and wine cellars. Built in late nineteenth and in the beginning of the twentieth century, the captains houses were constructed with the use of material taken from local volcanic earth such as black and red lava stones.
The cave houses
The cave houses which today are the most iconic residents in Oia, were built, or actually carved, in the rock of the cliff face. They were inhabited mostly by the sailors of Oia. They were constructed by digging into the rock a long and narrow space with a vaulted ceiling. The cave houses had openings to the natural light and the fresh air only at their façade where a door was constructed in the center of it and two windows, one on each door side.
About Santorini
In ancient times, Santorini, then known as Strongili meaning "the round one," boasted a vastly different shape from its current form. The island was ravaged by a monumental volcanic eruption around 1600 BC, believed to have contributed to the downfall of the Minoan civilization in Crete. This cataclysmic event submerged half of the island, giving rise to the iconic crescent shape and the formation of smaller islets within the caldera. Remarkably, the submarine volcano of Santorini remains active to this day!
Unparalleled beauty
Throughout antiquity, Santorini, also revered as "Kallisti"- the most beautiful for its unparalleled beauty, served as a hub for maritime activities. Under Byzantine rule, its strategic significance attracted the attention of skilled mariners, notably the Venetians. Venice, in fact, bestowed upon the island its modern name in honor of Santa Irina, when Santorini became a part of the Venetian Archipelago Duchy.
The Venetians introduced innovative wine cultivation practices to Santorini, blending them with ancient winemaking techniques to produce exceptional wine varieties.
Viticultural heritage
This fusion of old and new methods resulted in the creation of exquisite wines, enriching the island's viticultural heritage.
Because of the challenges posed by Mediterranean piracy, Santorini flourished in the following centuries, thanks to its distinctive geography characterized by towering cliffs and natural harbors. This provided sanctuary in the Aegean, attracting expert sailors and captains. The island emerged as a prominent trading post, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries, boasting a formidable fleet manned by seasoned seafarers.
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