Why does Santorini have blue roofs?

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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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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Anastasi church in Oia Perched on the cliffside in Oia, Anastasi Church boasts one of the most famous blue domes of Santorini. Its bright blue dome, adorned with pristine white walls and bell towers, creates a harmonious blend of colors that is simply awe-inspiring.

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It mainly had to do with construction reasons. Domes in general are one of the first structural forms humans worked with in stone architecture. Spherical domes are used in Greece from appx. 5,800 BC.

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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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Due to the challenging weather conditions (heavy hurricanes in winter and solar heat in summer) and protection from pirate invasions, Santorini's architecture is very similar to the other Cycladic islands. Of unique charm is the sunset of Fira and Oia, for which the island welcomes thousands of visitors.

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

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The blue and white colors of Greek island houses were initially chosen for practical reasons to cool the interiors and reflect heat. Blue became prevalent for doors and shutters as it was the cheapest paint color available to fishermen and sailors.

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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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Oia Village is the most popular town on Santorini — with iconic blue and white churches and the best sunset perches on the island — is the most expensive (and crowded).

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Santorini is best known as a romantic island with one-of-a-kind views, whereas Mykonos is more about sandy beaches and spirited partying. Depending on the vibe you seek, both islands suit holidays à deux. Solo travellers and groups of friends will also find both appealing, though Mykonos offers more in terms of edge.

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First of all, Santorini is a natural wonder of the world. Its world famous volcano, which constitutes a magnificent sight and attraction of Santorini, formed the island and gave it its current shape and geomorphology by a massive volcanic eruption, thousands of years ago.

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Santorini really has no sources of natural drinking water. While a couple of new sea water desalination plants have been able to supply the main cities with clean water, many households still rely on collecting the winter rain fall in large tanks that sit on top of many houses.

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Geothermal energy, a mild, renewable and local source is cheap and very environmentally friendly. Geothermal conditions are particularly favorable in Santorini because of the active volcano and increased heat flow and geothermal energy is a clear comparative advantage for the island.

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