What is Cycladic architecture?

Category: travel asia travel
4.7/5 (696 Views . 41 Votes)
Cycladic architecture. Cycladic architecture is famous for its uniqueness and charm, providing the islands with minimal aesthetics but with a daring style. The most prominent characteristic of this architectural style, are the white washed cube houses built next to and on top of one another.



Likewise, what is a Cycladic house?

Cycladic houses are usually orientated to the southeast in order to benefit from natural light, while their walls are painted white and have a thickness of 60-80cm meant to provide protection from the strong winds and extreme heat.

Furthermore, what are buildings in Santorini made of? The main building materials are, of course, volcanic which are abundant thanks to the well-known volcano; volcanic dust, black igneous rock, red rock and pumice stone. Two basic architectural characteristics of the island are the domes and the cave houses, whose construction is easy and inexpensive.

Also question is, what does Cyclades mean?

kl?diːz/; Greek: Κυκλάδες [kikˈlaðes]) are an island group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. The name refers to the islands around ("cyclic", κυκλάς) the sacred island of Delos.

Why are the buildings in Santorini white?

The white color reflects the biggest part of the dazzling light, preventing the houses from getting warm and that was a basic goal of the traditional architecture. Making the houses heat resistant, the summers are much more tolerable and pleasant.

38 Related Question Answers Found

How do you pronounce Cyclades?

Cyclades = Sy-kla-deez. Place accent on the first syllable. The "y" is pronounced with a long "I" sound. It may not be correct, but it's close to the Webster dictionary version, and I'll remember it this way.

Why are Greek church domes blue?

The white wash reflects sunlight keeping them cool. They are even cool to the touch. The houses are white-washed up to three times a year, most traditionally before Easter, with each person being responsible for white washing their own home. The blue domes represent the sea and sky.

Why are the houses in Santorini Blue and White?

To revolt against the rulers, the Greeks started painting the houses with ecological paint of white later adding up the blue. Therefore, stating a rule of re-painting all the houses in blue and white. Thereby, the towns started reflecting the colours of their flag. Even Santorini was re-painted because of the rule.

Why are they called the Cyclades?

The name Cyclades means “encircling islands,” and they are so named because they form a rough circle around the sacred island of Delos (Dílos), which was the legendary birthplace of Artemis and her brother Apollo. Virtually all of the islands have some archaeological interest.

Why is everything in Greece blue and white?


In the 1930s, it was mandated that all buildings be painted with white lime as it was thought to have antibacterial properties. During the military dictatorship of 1967, it became a legal requirement for Greek houses to be painted blue and white. Visit INSIDER's homepage for more stories.

Where can I go Cyclades?

Top Cyclades islands: The definitive guide
  • Santorini. If you're planing a trip to Greek Islands, then you definitely have to visit Santorini!
  • Mykonos. Mykonos is the perfect island to party in the Cyclades.
  • Delos. Delos is a small uninhabited island.
  • Paros and Antiparos.
  • Naxos.
  • Amorgos.
  • Syros.
  • Milos.

How are Greek houses built?

In most of ancient Greece, a house was built around an open air courtyard. Houses were built of stone, wood, and clay bricks. They were sturdy and comfortable. Larger homes might have several bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathing room, a woman's sitting area, a men's dining room, and one or two rooms for storage.

How were the Cyclades formed?

Entire islands - Santorini, Milos, Kimolos- and a part of Antiparos were shaped by the volcanic activity which created the island arch of the Southern Aegean. This happened by the sinking of the African Plate under the Aegean Plate. The age of these volcanoes is about 4 million years.

Why are the houses in Greece White?

In most of the Cycladic islands, houses were painted white to reflect the harsh summer sun. So, it started for let's say "bioclimatic" or "ecological" reasons, to make houses a little more heat resistant, with the knowledge people had at the time. Instead, asbestos was used to produce an almost white color.

Which Cyclades have airports?


Smaller airports in the Cyclades include Astypalaia (JTY), Milos (MLO), Naxos (JNX), Paros (PAS), and Syros (JSY), all of which have regular flights from Athens on Olympic Air.

What does Samos mean?

Wiktionary. Samos(ProperNoun) A island belonging to the Sporades and a city on it, in the Aegean. Samos(ProperNoun) A modern Greek prefecture in the eastern part of the Aegean that includes the island along with the islands of Icaria and Fourni.

Is Crete part of the Cyclades?

The number of inhabited islands is variously cited as between 166 and 227. The largest Greek island by area is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea.

Islands of Greece by size.
27
Island Ios
Area (sq. miles) 41.7
(km2) 108
Cluster Cyclades

Can a US citizen buy property in Greece?

Can foreigners buy property in Greece? Yes, however it's easier for some than others. While EU residents will run into almost no restrictions purchasing property on the islands, non-EU residents will need to prove both their connections to the country and their intent for property use.

What are houses made of in Greece?


Many Greek homes are located very close to each other with little or no yard. Many homes are white with colorfully painted doors and windows. These homes are made of stone, brick, and clay. Ancient Greek homes were built around an open courtyard and some still follow this style.

Where were Cycladic figurines from the Bronze Age mostly found?

2500 BC. Cycladic figurines (sometimes called "Cycladic idols") are among the most enigmatic and most evocative objects from Greek prehistory. They were produced in the Cycladic islands (whence the name) in the southern Aegean for a few centuries around the middle of the third millennium BC.

How long is Santorini?

18 km