Cycladic Tapestries

One trip to Greece I discovered the smooth textured, simplified forms of Cycladic art. The figures always look they are dreaming to me and perhaps they are. Thanks to Zde (goo.gl/vbptYK) for the use of his photograph as a reference!

A beautiful "detail" from Firostefani, one of the villages hanging over the Caldera of Santorini island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece.

The village of Oia on the Island of Santorini. Houses and hotels are all crammed together on the hill. Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. BEST VIEWED LARGER Sold a Poster : Jan 09 Sold a Card : 25 Mar 10

Transport your space to the enchanting island of Santorini, Greece, with this captivating art print. Carefully crafted, it captures the essence of Santorini's iconic sunsets, whitewashed buildings, and crystal-clear waters. Whether you've explored the Cyclades or dream of experiencing Santorini's beauty, this Santorini-inspired art print is the perfect addition to your home or office.

The beautiful Wind Star sailing ship was moored in the Santorini Caldera. Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. Best viewed Larger.

Firá, the capitol of the Greek island of Santorini hangs precariously at the edge of the cliff, 300 m (984 ft) above sea level. "Firá", is actually a different pronunciation of “Thíra”, the ancient name of the island itself. Santorini is a collection of small Islands which are the southern most islands of the Cycladic Group in the Aegean Sea. Sold 1 Card : 1 June 13 BEST VIEWED LARGER. If you do, see if you can spot the ponies which carry tourists up and down the cliff path from the dock at the base of the cliff.

Fira, the capitol of Santorini is on top of a very large cliff. The town hangs precariously at the edge of the cliff. Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. Best viewed LARGER.

Looking out over the Santorini caldera from Fira (the capitol). Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. Best viewed LARGER. Sold 1 Card : 30th Dec 10

Looking out over the Santorini caldera. Imagine waking up to this view every morning. Some people have all the luck... This shot was taken from the small village of Fira (the capitol) on Santorini, Greece, one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. Best viewed Larger. Sold 1 Card : 30 Dec 10 Sold 1 Large Framed Print : 7 Oct 13 Sold 1 Sticker : 7 Nov 14 Sold 1 Sticker : 2 Mar 15 Sold 1 Sticker : 1 Jun 15

Looking out over the Santorini caldera from near Akrotiri. Fira (the capitol) is on top of the hill just off centre right and Oia can be seen at the far end of the island on the left. Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. Sold 1 Card : 1 June 13 Best viewed LARGER.

Imagine waking up to this view every morning. Some people have all the luck... Looking out over the Santorini Caldera from Fira (the capitol). Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. BEST VIEWED LARGER Sold 1 Card : 30th Dec 10 Sold 1 Card : 4th Apr 14 Sold 1 Shower Curtain : 10 Jan 21

Looking out over the Santorini caldera from the lovely village of Oia. Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. BEST VIEWED LARGER Sold 1 Card : 25 Mar 10 Sold 1 Card : 30th Dec 10 Sold 1 Tote Bag : 25 Mar 15 Sold 1 Sticker : 20 Nov 15 Sold 1 Sticker : 2 Dec 15 Sold 1 Sticker : 1 Aug 18 Sold 2 Tote Bags : 23 Aug 18 Sold 1 Tote Bag : 17 Sep 18 Sold 1 Sticker : 12 Jan 19 Sold 1 Sticker : 19 July 20 Sold 1 Cotton Tote Bag : 20 Sep 20 Sold 1 Jigsaw : 29 Nov 20

Here you can see part of Oia village hanging over the caldera. In the background you can see the island of Thirasia, the one that "closes" the circle. Once upon a time, Thirasia and Santorini were one single "round" island called Strongili ("Στρογγύλη", it means "round"). During the prehistoric years, some 3600 years ago, a massive eruption of the volcano, separated the island in two, creating the impressive caldera. Later eruptions created two more little islands in the centre of the Caldera, Palaia Kammeni and Nea Kammeni, where you can visit a still active crater. That huge eruption 3.600 years ago, and the tsunami that followed is considered by the scients, the main responsible for the destruction of the Minoan civilisation in Cre...

Beautiful view to the caldera of the volcano of Santorini in Oia village, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece.

Beautiful "detail" in Ano Syra ("Ano Syros"), the old medieval settlement of Syros island, Cyclades, Greece. EXIF DATA 58 mm 1/125 sec f/11 ISO 200 Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

This may look like an unfinished bridge, but it's just a bridge that was used for loading minerals to ships. The place is Mega Livadi, at Serifos island, Cyclades, Greece, and it was one of the most important mineral centers of the island, along with Koutalas a few km to the east. Serifos was a very important mining center since the ancient years, and reached its peak in the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The exploitation of the mines during this last period passed from French to German and the last decades to Greek Hands, until the 60's or 70's when they closed. Here in Mega Livadi took place one of the most important uprising in the history of Greek workers movement in 1916. The working conditions under the ...

Right above Fyropotamos, one of the most beautiful settlements with "syrmata" in Milos island (Cyclades, Greece), you can see the small church of the village and an old, ruined installation for loading minerals to ships. Looks like a gate straight to the sea.

Can anyone explain how on Earth, could a rock like this have been created? With the geological history of Milos island (Cyclades, Greece) everything seems possible. The greatest artist of all times, Nature, had a creativity and imagination uplift, when creating this unique island. If you want to see such "psychedelic" rock and pebbles you should go the Kastanas beach on the east coast of Milos. Get a good map of the island and don't be afraid of the dirtroads! Don't pick a pebble as a souvenir! A local legend says, that everytime a visitor took a pebble as a souvenir, the pebble was losing its colours as soon as it left Milos. Can you believe it?

Beautiful balcony hanging over the caldera in Oia village, Santorini island, Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece.

Once you get to Folegandros island (Cyclades, Greece) you should not just focus in its beautiful Hora, but also visit the north part of the island, called "Ano Mera", where time seems to have stuck back, in the 50's. Almost no cars there, everybody moving with horses and donkeys, and everybody a great "ambassador" of the world known Greek hospitality. Truly beautiful images of "Old" Greece. On that part of the island, many of the inhabitants have roots from Crete (my island) something that happens also in other islands of the Cyclades, mostly Naxos, Milos, Mykonos etc. Their ancestors came to the Cyclades some 300 or 400 years ago, when Crete fell to the hands of the Ottomans. In Ano Mera, I found many people with the last name "Ma...

Sunset at the "cavechurch" of Agios Stefanos, close to Galissas village, Syros island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Marble quarry close to Kinidaros village, Naxos island, Cyclades, Greece Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Sunset photo taken at the northeast edge of the island, close to Koumelas and Mali villages. In the background the coast of Andros island. Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece.

SERIFOS ISLAND, CYCLADES, AEGEAN SEA, GREECE. An old, abandoned jetty used for loading minerals to ships at Mega Livadi village.

n the vast majority of the islands of the Aegean their "capitals" are called "Hora" (or "Chora"). Most of the Horas are located in the interior of the island, high up on some hill, relatively far from the sea. The main reasons, were defensive reasons, as the people of the islands wanted to avoid attacks from the pirates that once upon a time were lurking the Archipelago. Of course there are some exceptions. For example, the "Hora" of Myconos is a seaside town, because the Myconians used to do business with the pirates, or in some cases were pirates themselves. The Hora of Serifos is divided in 2 parts, in 2 neighbourhoods, the Ano (Upper) Hora and the Kato (lower) Hora. In this photo you can see the square (Piazza) of Ano Hora, whe...

A beautiful alley and small gallery in picturesque Oia village, Santorini island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece. EXIF DATA 24 mm 1/32 sec f/8 ISO 200 Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Tons of lava from some volcanic explosion a couple of millions years ago, froze rapidly and with the help of erosion, wind and sea, created some unearthly landscapes in Milos island (Cyclades, Aegean Sea, Greece). The variety of shapes and colors in the Milian landscape, would make jealous even the most imaginative artist. Photo taken at Sarakiniko beach.

Sunset at the "cavechurch" of Agios Stefanos, close to Galissas village, Syros island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

Remains of an old boat used for decoration. Night shot from Moutsouna village, "seaport" of Apiranthos village (about 11 km distance), Naxos island, Cyclades, Greece. The cranes that you see in the background were used for loading minerals (emery) to ships. Camera: Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III

The blinding white volcanic rocks of Sarakiniko beach, Milos island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece.

A beautiful small house, great example of Cycladic architecture, at Pyrgos village, Santorini island, Cyclades, Aegean sea, Greece. EXIF DATA 16 mm f/11 1/80 sec ISO 200 Camera: Canon 1Ds Mark III Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Fira, the capitol of Santorini is on top of a very large cliff. The town hangs precariously at the edge of the cliff. Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea. Best viewed LARGER.

Fira, the capitol of Santorini is on top of a very large cliff. The town hangs precariously at the edge of the cliff. The steep cliffs are 300 m (984 ft) high. See the Wikipedia entry for Santorini for more information on these facinating Islands. In this view you can see one of the ways of getting up and down to the dock. If you feel fit enough, you can use the zig-zag path from top to bottom. You can walk or you can ride one of the ponies which carry tourists up and down the cliff path from the dock at the base of the cliff. The other way you can get up and down the cliff is to use the 12 cable cars, 6 going up and 6 going down. Each car holds 6 passengers. Santorini, Greece, is a collection of small Islands.

The village of Oia on the Island of Santorini. Houses, hotels, churches and even a windmill are all crammed together on the hill. Can you spot the two small yachts? Santorini, Greece, is one of the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea.

The small village of Oia on Santorini, Greece. The steep cliffs are 300 m (984 ft) high. Santorini, Greece, is a collection of small Islands which are the southern most islands of the Cycladic group in the Aegean Sea.

The mystique Greek Island Mykonos is the crown Jewel of the Cycladic islands. These islands are on the shores of Greece. Mykonos is just east of Athens.