Author
George Papadellis | SG Head
The lighthouse of Akrotiri is one of the oldest in Greece, standing on the edge of a high cliff above the sea. Dated from 1892, standing in the south peninsula of Santorini island, the best time to visit it is during the sunset.
Photo by: iStock.com | MichaelUtech
History
The Lighthouse of Akrotiri, was most probably built by a French trading company at the end of the 19th century. Its operation started with petrol, until electricity came to Greece in 1889. The operation of the lighthouse stopped during World War II, and it started again in 1945 after a reconstruction by the Greek Navy.
Architecture
The lighthouse tower stands on the top of a small white building. This building used to be the warden's house during the first years of operation, especially during the period of operation with petrol (as the warden had to refill the engine and secure its operation). The tower has a square shape and it emerges above 10 meters from the warden’s house.
Location
The lighthouse is close to the Akrotiri Village (only 5 Km away) and the Akrotiri Prehistoric Town. It is also only 25 minutes away from the Village of Fira (capital).
Photo by: Moonik, Santorini lighthouse, Greece 001, CC BY-SA 3.0
Akrotiri Lighthouse Sunset
The Lighthouse is one more of the locations of Santorini Island to watch the awesome sunset with your partner or your friends. If you sit at a specific position on the rocks behind the lighthouse, you will see the sun diving to the water next to the tower, a unique lifetime experience.
Getting to Akrotiri Lighthouse
But, how to get to Akrotiri Lighthouse? To reach the lighthouse, there is no direct bus. The buses start from the Fira bus station and stop at Akrotiri Village, making the car or the taxi the best solution.
Status of the Lighthouse Today
Today, the lighthouse lights a radiant white at intervals of 20 seconds at night, reaching out to the sea for about 24 nautical miles and still contributing to the protection of the travelling boats.
