8Santorini (Σαντορίνη)
Originally called “Thera” after the Spartan leader Theras, the island was renamed Santorini in the 13th century by the Venetians, who dedicated it to Saint Irene (Santa Irini).
The name stuck, though its volcanic eruption in the second millennium BCE is often linked to the legend of Atlantis. Despite its modern association with white-washed buildings and blue domes, its name carries layers of history from antiquity to medieval times.
