The frescoes faithfully recreate the originals using a process discovered by 'Kodak' and developed by 'Transfer Relief'.    The frescoes were chromatometrically measured, and photographed to produce high quality negatives.   After calibrating and developing the colour photographs the emulsion was removed.  The resulting gelatin image is naturally elastic and was transferred to a reconstituted surface.  The results are remarkable

Being out of season we were alone at the gallery apart from the curator on the desk when we entered.  He was very knowledgeable about Akrotiri, the frescoes and Greek history in general.  He enthusiastically explained the significance of the subject matter the clothes, rituals' etc, but not all at once.   Each time we made to leave he fed us a little more information, challenged us with questions and sent us back over and over again to "observe".  What a great ambassador for Santorini

           Q:  Why did the young fisherman have blue hair?         A:   Adolescents shaved parts of their heads and smeared them with blue paint during their initiation rites

           Q:   What colour is missing from the frescoes?           A:   Green, because the organic egg and saffron used to create it evaporated in the intense volcanic heat

On the Southwest tip of the island is the remains of the Minoan city of Akrotiri.   When we visited in 2001 it was covered by an ugly but protective modern roof, designed to be over planted to make it blend with the surroundings.   However in 2006 it collapsed with the combined weight of the soil placed over it and the watering.   One  British tourist was killed and six others injured . The site was closed, reopening in 2012

The original name of the settlement known as Akrotiri is lost in time, it took its modern name from the town nearby. We do know it dates from the 4th millennium BC

One of the most important settlements and ports of the Aegean,  featuring sophisticated two/three storied buildings with an elaborate drainage system and filled with wonderful wall-paintings, furniture and vessels.  

Imported objects found on site suggest commercial contact not only with Mainland Greece but also Cyprus, Egypt and Syria.  This all came tumbling down towards the end of the 17th century BC when an earthquake buried it in volcanic ash.  No human remains have been found,  it's presumed there was enough warning for a successful departure

Most of the artefacts currently remaining on site are pithos jars.  They come in a variety to shapes and sizes and were used for storage of fluids and grains.   The  larger ones got more interesting when discarded,  becoming bath tubs or even coffins

The buildings in Oia tend to be brighter than elsewhere, Yannis from Zoe Aegeas told us there is an official palate of traditional colours to choose from.  At Zoe they choose from the more dramatic end of the range for their various properties around the Caldara

The store in the center specialized in items from Asia and was one of our favourites.   We enjoyed hearing of the owners travels along the Silk Road in search of things to bring back to Santorini.  Elsewhere there were beautiful items made by craftsmen from around the world now settled on Santorini