Santorini got its current half-moon shape around 1,650 BC after a huge volcanic eruption. In ancient times, its shape was round and, in fact, a myth claims that the island emerged out of the sea in a miraculous way.
How did Santorini get built?
Prior to 1620 BC, the island of Santorini, now known as Thera, was built up by layers of lava created by overlapping shield volcanoes, and it had experienced three significant eruptions that formed overlapping calderas, or collapsed magma chambers.
Why is Santorini built like that?
Why are buildings in Santorini white and blue?
It was not until 1967, that these two colors became a mandatory choice when the Junta, a right-wing military dictatorship mandated that all buildings must be painted or repainted to white and blue. The regime believed that this measure would inspire patriotism and reflect nationalism.
Why are houses in Greece built the way they are?
The roofs of the homes were made of clay tiles and the windows were small and covered with wooden shutters. These houses were constructed to keep the Greeks warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Similar to today, poor Greek people lived in small homes, while wealthy Greeks lived in large ones.