Where do locals live on Santorini?

The most popular towns are easily Oia and Fira on the island’s west coast. The entire west side of the island is just a small village after a small village with a smattering of picturesque beaches in-between.

Why are so many houses in Greece white?

This might sound strange today, but the whitewash used to paint the houses contained limestone. Limestone is a powerful disinfectant, and not many others were in common use at the time. Greek citizens thus whitewashed their homes to help sanitize them and reduce the spread of cholera.

What are the homes in Santorini Greece?

The houses of Santorini are categorized by their structure and style. According to their structure there are three types; the common cave houses, called yposkafa, which are dug entirely into the volcanic rock, houses partially dug into the rock with exterior additions and regular residences constructed on the ground.

Why are the roofs blue in Santorini?

The blue originated from a cleaning agent called Loulaki (blue powder). This blue powder was found across every home in Greece. The mixture of Loulaki powder with lime produces the bright blue color that we see today. This blue color was easily available at every home and was very inexpensive.

Does anyone actually live in Santorini?

During winter time only a few people live in Santorini and in the summertime when the island is very populated, everyone is very busy and it is very difficult to meet even for a coffee. So the golden rule is quality over quantity, for everything.

Is Santorini expensive to live?

And alas, Santorini (as with many Greek islands) is an expensive island to live on. One big consideration is that many prime living areas are taken up with hotels and holiday rentals. So finding accommodation for all year round can become pricey.

What are the white buildings in Greece made of?

The mystery of white color The buildings in Greece are made up of stone, mud, and volcanic materials that have a darker color and are especially hot. During hot summer days, it was very difficult to be inside the buildings, since dark colors absorbed the sunlight, making them extremely hot.

Why are homes in Greece painted white?

To revolt against the rulers, the Greeks started painting the houses with ecological paint of white later adding up the blue. It translates to “Freedom or Death.” The white paint also gives bioclimatic benefits by keeping the houses cooler in the scorching heat of Greece. The Cycladic islands followed the trend.

Why are the walls in Greece white?

As white color is a reflector of heat it makes an environment cool and comfortable to live in. This way, it preserves the freshness and coolness inside the Greek houses during hot summer days. Another reason was that there was a Cholera disease outbreak in Greece in 1938.