• History of Akrotiri

If you are planning to stay in Akrotiri you should take advantage of Akrotiri car rental and visit the archaeological site of the old village. It is a great option for families and groups.

Akrotiri is a historical village of Santorini with a population of 355 inhabitants. It is located at the southwest end of the island, 15 km away from the capital city of Santorini, Fira. It is administered in the Akrotiri Local District of the Municipality of Thira. During the Venetian conquest in the medieval times it was one of the island’s most popular places.

Akrotiri is one of the most important centers of the Aegean during prehistoric times. The first settlements in Akrotiri date from the Late Neolithic Age (at least from the 4th millennium BC). During the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) there was a settlement in Akrotiri. During the Middle and Early Late Bronze Age (20th-17th century BC) this settlement expanded and became one of the most important urban centers and ports of the Aegean.

Its large area (about 200 acres), its excellent urban organization, its impressive sewerage network, its ornate multi-store buildings with exquisite mural decoration, rich furniture and household items testify to its great development. The modern village is built up in the hill and there is still the Venetian tower, or the castle, as it is called by the locals. Akrotiri is world known due to the prehistoric settlement that was discovered in the excavations.