The Municipality of Thira (Santorini) belongs to the Cyclades Prefecture of the South Aegean Region and consists of the islands Thira (Santorini), Thirassia and the neighboring islets.
The Municipality has an area of ​​90,69km2 and a population of 15,550 inhabitants, based on the latest census of 2011.
The Municipality of Thira is based in Fira.
The island of Thira or Santorini was formerly called Stroggili, due to the round shape of the island. Later it was named Kallisti (the most beautiful ancient). The name Thira came from the ancient Sparta Thira who first lived on the island. The name Santorini is from the corruption of the Greeks, based on the name Santa Irina that had been given to the island by the Frankish Crusaders.
The shape that Santorini Island has today emerged from the volcanic eruptions that took place on the island and which resulted in the change of the former round shape. The biggest explosion occurred during the Late Cycladic period. The terrible eruption of the volcano destroyed the prehistoric civilization of the island, created the caldera of the island and is considered the second largest explosion in human history. Some scholars believe that the Minoan Civilization of Crete was destroyed by this explosion and the enormous tidal wave.
Santorini, Methana, Milos and Nisyros belong to the volcanic arc of the South Aegean. The largest active volcano is Santorini.
This island is the most special of all the islands of the Cyclades. The picturesque Cycladic architecture is preserved, but those that impress are the cave houses in rocks.
Fira, the capital of the island, is built high up on a vertical rock 260 meters above sea level. Beautiful is Oia in the northern part of the island, Imerovigli, Mesaria, Tower Kallisti, Kamari, etc. Notable places for the visitor are Ancient Thira with ruins of temples, market, theater, baths, graves, ancient Antiquities, where a whole Minoan city with houses and frescoes and utensils was discovered. This particular ancient city was buried with the eruption of the volcano.
Named and unique are the beaches of Santorini due to their color created by volcanic rocks from geological shifts. The black color in the sand prevails in all the beaches. Baxedes, Kolumpos, Vourvoulos with black pebbles, Kamari, Monolithos, Perissa, Akrotiri. The Red Beach is red in the sand. Vlychada consists of black thick sand and is surrounded by tall white rocks.
Santorini is one of the Greek islands with intense tourism. It has many hotels, restaurants, night clubs. Their life in the summer months is very intense. Many tourists choose the island because of its unique location to fulfill their wedding mystery.