Santorini Island, Greece: February 2018 geology tour
Upon request we organised a privately guided 3 days geology tour on the island of Santorini from 8 to 10 February 2018 of which tour guide and geologist Dr Ingrid Smet compiled this selection of photographs.
The islands looked very different from summer time when they are overrun by tourists and the heat has dried up most vegetation. Although the weather is of course less sunny and with higher chances of rain and clouds - and strong winds which sometimes result in the cancellation of all flights - it is well worth visiting Santorini in the winter time to take in the unique and quiet atmosphere and see the colourful winter and early spring flowers...
For many years now we organise 8-9 day group tours to Santorini both in autumn and springtime (Fascination Volcano tour) but if you can also contact us for a private multiple day tour at any custom date.
The islands looked very different from summer time when they are overrun by tourists and the heat has dried up most vegetation. Although the weather is of course less sunny and with higher chances of rain and clouds - and strong winds which sometimes result in the cancellation of all flights - it is well worth visiting Santorini in the winter time to take in the unique and quiet atmosphere and see the colourful winter and early spring flowers...
For many years now we organise 8-9 day group tours to Santorini both in autumn and springtime (Fascination Volcano tour) but if you can also contact us for a private multiple day tour at any custom date.
View across the Santorini caldera from the top of the zigzag road down to the port of Athinios (Phot... [info]
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(172 Hits)
The rocks cropping out at Athinios Bay are part of the much smaller island that already existed befo... [info]
(228 Hits)
(228 Hits)
View from the port towards the beautifully coloured volcanic layers that make up the inner caldera w... [info]
(226 Hits)
(226 Hits)
The youngest volcanic island of the Santorini group, Nea Kameni, is formed in the centre of the olde... [info]
(223 Hits)
(223 Hits)
The little island of Aspronisi is the smallest of the 3 islands that were once connected and formed ... [info]
(218 Hits)
(218 Hits)
The walls in this quarry near Akrotiri show the 4 different layers that were deposited during the la... [info]
(423 Hits)
(423 Hits)
White washed chapels and churches with 'Aegean blue'doors and roofs are strewn all over the islands.... [info]
(188 Hits)
(188 Hits)
The Akrotiri lighthouse (faros) on the southernmost part of Thera island is build on top ca. 500 000... [info]
(211 Hits)
(211 Hits)
View from the lighthouse towards the white, grey and blackish cliffs that represent the oldest volca... [info]
(195 Hits)
(195 Hits)
View of the the central caldera cliffs and the limestone mountain of Profitis Ilias which represents... [info]
(193 Hits)
(193 Hits)
Architecture in the old part of Emporio village. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(191 Hits)
(191 Hits)
Elegant church tower amidst the closely packed small houses of Emporio. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(179 Hits)
Typical Aegean small houses with narrow staircases in the 'castle'of Emporio. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(183 Hits)
Wondering around in the narrow street of the old part, 'castle'of the traditional village of Emporio... [info]
(175 Hits)
(175 Hits)
Secret garden. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(177 Hits)
(177 Hits)
The traditional village of Pyrgos. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(163 Hits)
View from Pyrgos to the northern part of Thera island with the main village of Fira and in the backg... [info]
(183 Hits)
(183 Hits)
Tea for two on the roofs of Pyrgos. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(186 Hits)
(186 Hits)
View from Pyrgos towards the southern part of Thera island with Akrotiri peninsula (centre), Asproni... [info]
(194 Hits)
(194 Hits)
Sunset seen from the higher parts of the old town of Pyrgos. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(166 Hits)
Pyrgos feline. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(189 Hits)
House entrances in the old part of Pyrgos village. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(171 Hits)
(171 Hits)
One of many narrow streets in the old part of Pyrgos. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(168 Hits)
(168 Hits)
The fertile volcanic soils of Santorini have been used for vine growing and wine making since ancien... [info]
(202 Hits)
(202 Hits)
View from the archaeological site of ancient Thera down towards Perissa coastline and part of the Pr... [info]
(196 Hits)
(196 Hits)
A zigzag road takes you from the beach town of Kamari up to the mountain location of the archaeologi... [info]
(270 Hits)
(270 Hits)
Fig trees and pilar remnants at the archaeological site of Ancient Thera. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(158 Hits)
(158 Hits)
The ruins at the archaeological site of Ancient Thera represent a lively city that expanded and thri... [info]
(160 Hits)
(160 Hits)
Originally founded by Dorian colonists from Sparta ca. 800 BC the ancient town of Thera expanded ove... [info]
(165 Hits)
(165 Hits)
Early spring flowers at the archaeological site of Ancient Thera. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(195 Hits)
(195 Hits)
Roman baths at the archaeological site of Ancient Thera. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(238 Hits)
(238 Hits)
View from the archaeological site of Ancient Thera down towards the beach at Kamari where also in an... [info]
(181 Hits)
(181 Hits)
View towards the southern part of the caldera walls on a foggy winter day. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(204 Hits)
View from central Thera towards the northen part of the caldera, with the cinder cones of Megalo and... [info]
(177 Hits)
(177 Hits)
Early spring time wild anemone. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(167 Hits)
(167 Hits)
Almond blossom. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(178 Hits)
(178 Hits)
Traditional windmill at the end of a narrow street in the northernmost part of Oia. (Photo: Ingrid S... [info]
(155 Hits)
(155 Hits)
Traditional Aegean windmill. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(152 Hits)
(152 Hits)
Typical white houses at Ahmoudi. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(175 Hits)
(175 Hits)
Oia bells tall on a winter afternoon - Therasia island in the background. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
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(300 Hits)
Traditional houses hugging one another and the upper parts of the caldera wall in Oia. (Photo: Ingri... [info]
(166 Hits)
(166 Hits)
View across part of the central caldera wall from Oia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(152 Hits)
(152 Hits)
Windy afternoon atop the caldera cliffs in Oia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(263 Hits)
(263 Hits)
Oia sunset. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(178 Hits)
(178 Hits)
Colourful book shop and cat rental in Oia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(166 Hits)
(166 Hits)
Winter sun set behind the lower pumice lands of Therasia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(181 Hits)
(181 Hits)
The archaeological site of prehistoric Akrotiri is regarded as the Greek equivalent of Pompeii. (Pho... [info]
(187 Hits)
(187 Hits)
The prehisotic houses of Akrotiri were build over 3700 years ago yet show a very similar architectur... [info]
(199 Hits)
(199 Hits)
Our excellent Santorini local guide Chara tells us all we want to know about the intriguing civilisa... [info]
(215 Hits)
(215 Hits)
This staircase was damaged during the severe earthquake that preceded (and announced!) the catastrap... [info]
(177 Hits)
(177 Hits)
One of the larger buildings that was discovered contained many large amphora and vases with food sto... [info]
(163 Hits)
(163 Hits)
View towards the areas of Akrotiri peninsula that domed up when the first lavas weld up from deep be... [info]
(170 Hits)
(170 Hits)
Santorini's famous 'red beach'is an impressive cross section through a red cinder cone that was acti... [info]
(512 Hits)
(512 Hits)
View from 'Red Beach'towards the domed landscape of Aktrori, shaped this way by the earliest volcani... [info]
(173 Hits)
(173 Hits)
Transfer from the beach to our private red fishing vessel in a tiny rowing boat... (Photo: Ingrid Sm... [info]
(162 Hits)
(162 Hits)
We pass the island of Palea Kameni with its impressive dome cross section on the way to Nea Kameni. ... [info]
(190 Hits)
(190 Hits)
Actively degassing fumaroles create delicate mineral structures of yellow sulphur and white gypsum c... [info]
(337 Hits)
(337 Hits)
The ground and pebbles are covered by intricate sulphur and gypsum mineralisations that deposited fr... [info]
(159 Hits)
(159 Hits)
Early spring time lupine on the volcano of Nea Kameni. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(206 Hits)
(206 Hits)
The inner walls of the Giorgos craters on Nea Kameni have actively degassing fumaroles which cover t... [info]
(178 Hits)
(178 Hits)
Although the volcano has been quiet since its last eruption in 1950 it is expected to reawaken again... [info]
(205 Hits)
(205 Hits)
Panoramic view of the central area of Nea Kameni with eruption and explosion craters, monitoring equ... [info]
(361 Hits)
(361 Hits)
Large bread crust bomb on Nea Kameni in front of a dark grey to black blocky lava flow. In the backg... [info]
(304 Hits)
(304 Hits)
The usually grey-brown volcanic desert landscape of Nea Kameni has a vivid green and ruby red carpet... [info]
(429 Hits)
(429 Hits)
Winter time on Nea Kameni: small green and red plants cover the loose volcanic soils around the cent... [info]
(148 Hits)
(148 Hits)
View from the central crater on Nea Kameni to a peripheral lava dome and flow and beyond the caldera... [info]
(315 Hits)
(315 Hits)
View into the two twin craters on Nea Kameni that still have active fumaroles. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(293 Hits)
(293 Hits)
Cross section through a large blob of lava in the bottom section of the Skaros lava shield. (Photo: ... [info]
(193 Hits)
(193 Hits)
The colourful layers that make up the caldera cliffs are crosscut by volcanic dykes - sheets of now ... [info]
(203 Hits)
(203 Hits)
Santorini as we know it now is the end-product of ca 750 000 years of volcanic activity with repeati... [info]
(168 Hits)
(168 Hits)
The white houses of Oia contrast strongly with the bright red scoria deposits that make up the calde... [info]
(375 Hits)
(375 Hits)
The island of Palea Kameni is uninhabited... (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(164 Hits)
(164 Hits)
... with the one exception of our captain Sostis who decided to make it his home some 30 years ago. ... [info]
(167 Hits)
(167 Hits)
In recent times Santorini has become a very romantic destination, from honeymoons over Asian wedding... [info]
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(155 Hits)
View from Firostefano towards Fira and Profitias Ilias mountain. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(168 Hits)
(168 Hits)
Typical dolphin motive on a ca 3700 year old table at the Museum of prehistoric Thera. (Photo: Ingri... [info]
(183 Hits)
(183 Hits)
The well know swallow motive on ca 3700 year old pottery at the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. (Photo:... [info]
(190 Hits)
(190 Hits)
The famous wall painting of a young fisherman with his catch of the day, at the Museum of Prehistori... [info]
(164 Hits)
(164 Hits)
Very large ceramic amphora found at the cemetary of the town of ancient Thera (Archaeological Museum... [info]
(171 Hits)
(171 Hits)
Storage vases from ancient inhabitants of Santorini (Archaeological Museum of Thera) (Photo: Ingrid ... [info]
(155 Hits)
(155 Hits)
Exploring the exhibition at the Archaeological Museum of Thera. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(188 Hits)
(188 Hits)
Oie cat watching over its home. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(151 Hits)
(151 Hits)
Looking down the streets and stairs of Amhoudi. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(166 Hits)
(166 Hits)
Little coffee shop with grand view in Oia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(162 Hits)
(162 Hits)
Oia feline watching the winter tourists in town. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(138 Hits)
(138 Hits)
View towards the volcanic rock escarpement of Micros Profitis Ilias. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(160 Hits)
(160 Hits)
View across the agricultural terraces that are constructed in the lower areas of Thera island which ... [info]
(154 Hits)
(154 Hits)
Garden kitten in Oia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(140 Hits)
(140 Hits)
View from Oia towards Therasia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(297 Hits)
(297 Hits)
View from Oia towards the central Thera caldera walls and Fira. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(170 Hits)
(170 Hits)
Blue and white - Aegean architecture (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(140 Hits)
(140 Hits)
Cozy restaurant with excellent traditional food in Oia. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(153 Hits)
(153 Hits)
The food delicacies are just one of the many reasons to come visit the unique Santorini islands! (Ph... [info]
(218 Hits)
(218 Hits)
Only a few buildings are not yet restored after the catastrophic earthquake that hit the island in 1... [info]
(168 Hits)
(168 Hits)
Aegean love in white 'n'blue (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(170 Hits)
(170 Hits)
Sunrise from Perissa Beach (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(171 Hits)
(171 Hits)
Dawn along the beach at Perrissa (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(163 Hits)
(163 Hits)
Sunrise at Perissa beach (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(169 Hits)
(169 Hits)
Rays of early morning sunshine radiating out from behind the clouds. (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(151 Hits)
(151 Hits)
This rocky promontory at the edge of Mt Profitis Ilias is where the archaeological site of ancient T... [info]
(167 Hits)
(167 Hits)
View from Perissa towards Prifitis Ilias (left) and the site of ancient Thera (right). (Photo: Ingri... [info]
(163 Hits)
(163 Hits)
Perrisa beach in winter time (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(175 Hits)
(175 Hits)
Shells and volcanic pebbles at Perissa beach (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(178 Hits)
(178 Hits)
Sea side cat (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(169 Hits)
(169 Hits)
Pot garden in Perissa (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(147 Hits)
(147 Hits)
Perissa (Photo: Ingrid Smet) [info]
(136 Hits)
(136 Hits)
