Results Archaeological site Akrotiri

AKROTIRI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

Archaeological site
4/5
13 review

Go there and contact

Carte de l'emplacement de l'établissement
Akrotiri, Greece
Show on map
2024
Recommended
2024

A 2-hectare archaeological site housing a town buried almost intact by the great eruption of Santorini around 1610 BC.

Placed under a large protective roof, 200 m from Akrotiri beach, this archaeological site (Προϊστορική Πόλη Ακρωτηρίου/Proïstoriki Poli Akrotiriou) is home to exceptional remains: a city buried almost intact during the great eruption of the Santorini volcano around 1610 BC. Called Akrotiri ("the cape") by archaeologists because of its proximity to the village and cape of the same name, it was discovered by chance in 1867, when the area was being used as a quarry for the construction of the Suez Canal. Since then, Akrotiri has often been compared to Pompeii. Both places were frozen in time by a volcanic eruption, but the Greek site is much smaller: 2 ha have been excavated, compared with 45 ha for the Italian site. Excavations here are hampered by layers of ash, pozzolan and pumice up to 40 m high! But Akrotiri is much older, since the eruption of Santorini occurred some seventeen centuries before that of Vesuvius, in 79 A.D. This is a city of the Cycladic culture (3200-1050 B.C.), a Bronze Age society renowned for its white marble statuettes.

Strong Minoan influence. The site revealed an occupation dating back to 5000 BC. A strong Cretan influence of Minoan civilization in the last period before the eruption was also revealed. This is evidenced by the superb Minoan artefacts and frescoes from Akrotiri on display at the Prehistoric Museum in Thira and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. The town must have numbered between 2,000 and 9,000 inhabitants, who apparently had time to leave before the eruption. For the time being, only one "quarter" has been cleared, and it is only partially open to visitors. And, apart from an English-language video, information on the site is sketchy. But the tour does allow us to see a dozen or so villas that stood on two or three levels, blocks of cob and stone houses, a cobbled street, a network of sewers, the metal beds of a bedroom and the painted jars of a workshop. The most luxurious dwellings, built of cut stone, were given the name "xestè" (from the ancient Greek xeo, "to polish"). The largest, Xestè 3, had at least two levels with 14 rooms, some decorated with mural frescoes, and piping to supply an upstairs bathroom. Parking, café and store at the entrance.

Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.


Organize your trip with our partners Akrotiri
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide

Members' reviews on AKROTIRI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

4/5
13 reviews
Send a reply
Value for money
Service
Originality

The ratings and reviews below reflect the subjective opinions of members and not the opinion of The Little Witty.

You have already submitted a review for this establishment, it has been validated by the Petit Futé team. You have already submitted a review for this establishment, awaiting validation, you will receive an email as soon as it is validated.
cammmz
Visited in april 2018
Value for money
Service
Originality
Très beau site et très bien conservé. Le tour du musée est balisé par un ponton traversant tout le site, seulement un petit bout du chemin se fait au centre des ruines. Il reste néanmoins que les murs des bâtiments et quelques objets, les autre étant dans les différents musée de l'île.
Visited in september 2018
Value for money
Service
Originality
Vraiment fasciné et impressionné en visitant ce site antique qu'est Akrotiri, notre guide nous a appris tellement de choses sur cette civilisation disparue que ça m'a donné l'envie d'en savoir plus a mon retour.
C'est un incontournable lors d'un séjour à Santorin.
Mathys
Visited in may 2018
Value for money
Service
Originality
Un séjour sur l'ile de Santorin sans visite de ce site serait un sacrilège. Mais il faut admettre que les mesures prises pour le protéger nuisent à l'esthétique de la présentation.
Visited in august 2017
Value for money
Service
Originality
Les reste de cette ville ne sont pas très facile à décrypter faute de renseignements sur place. Mais on arrive quand même à imaginer la vie sous la civilisation Minoenne.
Très bel endroit.
Amandine22
Visited in september 2016
Value for money
Service
Originality
Site magnifique et à ne pas louper si vous allez à Santorini
Impressionnant ! On en reste sans voix lorsque l'on connait l'histoire

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Send a reply