Α. Akrotiri – Not only the settlement, but its civilization as well, present one of the most significant Aegean centers, during the Prehistoric period.
During the Neolithic era, the first inhabitants settled in the island of Santorini.
The Akrotiri settlement already exists in the years of the Copper period.
The settlement taking advantage of its harbour, becomes in a relatively short time a commercial Aegean center.
The size of the wealth achieved by the inhabitants justifies the settlement’s history, going back over 4000 years.
The settlement covers a total of 1/5 hectare land area.
All findings discovered, give evidence of the high growth and development.
It was a commercial center for the East in the period 1700 – 1600 BC.
Following the volcano’s eruption, the immigration of the inhabitants is deserting the settlement.
The volcanic lava has covered everything.
It was only in the 19th century that revealed the importance of the place through a number of excavations carried out.
The systematic work of the Greek archaeologist Spyridon Marinatos, from 1967, to the year of his death in 1974, resulted to the discovery of the settlement. The excavations are still in progress here.