Why are roofs painted blue in Santorini?

Politics behind the colours Blue and white colours became permanent when a military government came in power in the year 1967. They made it mandatory for all the buildings on the islands to be painted blue and white as they thought these colours supported their political agenda.



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The whitewashed walls and the blue domes represent the colors of the Greek flag. But Santorini buildings weren't always colored like that. During the Greek junta from 1967 to 1974, the right-wing military regime imposed that all buildings be painted white and blue to inspire patriotism and attract more tourists.

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Blue became prevalent for doors and shutters as it was the cheapest paint color available to fishermen and sailors. The military dictatorship enforced the blue and white coloring of Greek island houses, inspired by notions of patriotism and Greek nationalism.

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At the beginning of the 20th century, during the war, serious deceases, like cholera, plagued the Greek islands. Whitewash is a cheap, disinfectant material that was used regularly to limit the contagion. Back to that era, it was probably the most effective or even the only medium available for disinfection.

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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.

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No, Santorini is not a cheap place to visit. From the high cost of accommodations to the luxury restaurants and activities, many factors contribute to the expensive prices in Santorini. The popularity and beauty of the island, combined with its limited resources, also contribute to its high prices.

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The solution was to paint their houses light-colored by using whitewash which they made by mixing lime, water, and sea salt. As white color is a reflector of heat it worked perfectly to preserve the freshness and coolness of Greek homes.

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The beach's sand is composed of black and red pulverized volcanic rock from the nearby Santorini caldera.

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No, in Santorini you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet bowl. As with most places in Greece, toilet paper cannot be flushed down the toilet. You should place the used toilet paper into a special trash bin located next to it. The hosts or hotel staff empty the bin every day and put a new bag in it.

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Sherwin Williams Greek Villa isn't a true white or a creamy white, but it's one of the best off-white paint colors you can use that doesn't have a strong undertone. If you're looking for an off-white that's right in the middle, then this paint color might be for you.

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Every year before Easter, Santorini residents refresh the paint on their houses to get this clean look that you often see on the pictures from the Cyclades Islands. Houses in this part of Greece are traditionally covered with hydrated lime and water.

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Due to the wars of the 20th century, Santorini's economy declined and the inhabitants abandoned the island after a catastrophic earthquake in 1956.

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Yellow signifies “sadness” in Greece's culture and “jealousy” in France's culture.

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Come explore Santorini, Greece - where the brilliant blue waters of the Mediterranean stretch from the rocky cliffs and glimmering white buildings above.

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