Cycladic architecture, an unsurpassed heritage in Santorini
This is what architecture makes of each building. The Cyclades have over the years developed a special architecture that is not found anywhere else in the world and complements the beauty of the islands that have preserved it. The Cycladic houses are built by simple means in order to meet the needs of life, but they are considered to be unique in aesthetics.
Visiting Santorini island is the best way to enjoy the unique Cycladic architecture with Santorini tours!
The defensive characteristics of the Cycladic architecture
The islands of the Aegean sea faced security problems due to piracy, so the architecture was defensive. Houses were built in a fortified castle (Andros, Naxos), while the main villages were far from the sea, usually in a prominent position, so that threats from the raiders of the time could be spotted in time.
The factors that influenced Cycladitic architecture
Important factors that influenced the Cycladic architecture are the environment, the climate, the role of the water and the landscape. The settlement grew without planning, depending on the natural terrain. The construction of a village by design is very rare in the Cyclades. Thus, we mainly have “one-piece cubes” with an area of 3 × 4m. and a height of 2.5-3 m.
As no lumber was available, beams rarely exceeded three meters. The orientation of the house was usually south-east, so the house enjoyed natural light, while the walls were 60-80cm thick to ensure the desired temperature. For the same reason, on the north side there was almost always an opening to cool the house in the summer from the winds but also to avoid the cold air coming in winter.
In addition, the whitewashed walls offered clear appearance and relative cleanliness of the rooms, while the white color limits the absorption of heat in the summer months. Today, the development of materials, combined with the priceless architectural heritage of the Cyclades, enables us to build modern homes with a timeless character and style.
How to explore Santorini
You can meet every single part of Santorini and Cyclades by booking Santorini private tours and Santorini private transfers! Out luxury mini buses can take you everywhere you wish and our qualified guides will give you all the information for every single village on Santorini.