What is a Cycladic house?

Cycladic houses take their name from the Cyclades, a group of islands in Greece's Aegean Sea. The pure white exterior — traditionally achieved with a lime whitewash — creates the distinctive look and helps reflect the hot summer sun. Plus, the lime acts as a natural disinfectant.

What does the word Cycladic mean?

In antiquity they were the centre of a Bronze Age culture, the Cycladic, noted for its white marble idols. 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.

How are Cycladic houses built?

Houses in Cyclades islands have been built with plain constructive elements in order to cover the main daily needs, but they are considered wonderful works in terms of aesthetics. As piracy was a very important problem for the Aegean islands in the Medieval era, architecture had an evident defensive style.

Why are houses in Cyclades white?

Since the white-washing was established, the islanders kept using limestone to paint their houses. The bright white colour helped reflect the sunlight and cool down the indoors temperatures.

Why Santorini houses are 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.

The Cycladic House by TDC

Why are doors blue in Greece?

The blue used in Greek island houses was made from a mixture of limestone and a cleaning product called “loulaki”. Loulaki was a kind of blue talcum powder most islanders had readily available at home. Therefore, blue paint was a very easy color for them to make.

Why are the roofs blue in Greece?

The blue originated from a cleaning agent called Loulaki (blue powder). It is a sort of talcum powder. This blue powder was found across every home in Greece. The mixture of Loulaki powder with lime produces the bright blue color that we see today.

Which Greek island is Mamma Mia set on?

In the original “Mamma Mia,” the Greek island of Skopelos played the fictional island of Kalokairi. But to shoot “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” filmmakers turned to the island of Vis, off the coast of Croatia.

What are Santorini houses 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.

What city in Greece is all white?

Santorini – Santorini is perched on the edge of a submerged volcano, overlooking a stunning caldera. It is a dream island that is the epitome of your Greece fantasies – white houses, blue roofs and windmills.

When was Cycladic architecture built?

The style of these smooth-edged traditional houses, derive from the exceptional design of the Cycladic art that flourished back in the 2000 B.C. The artisans of that era produced authentic sculptures solely from Parian marble, which were frequently used as grave offerings and are commonly called Cycladic idols.

What are the white buildings in Greece called?

Santorini is the poster child for whitewashed architecture; its clifftop caldera villages are famous around the world. The architecture on Santorini is unique thanks to its use of the volcanic materials on the island.

What is the architecture style of Santorini?

Santorini is among the top destinations in Greece but also in the world and is characterized by its Cycladic architecture: white painted villages that stand on the top of the high red-coloured cliffs. Santorini architecture is featured uniquely throughout its settlements.

What was the Cycladic culture known for?

The significant Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Cycladic culture is best known for its schematic flat female idols carved out of the islands' pure white marble centuries before the great Middle Bronze Age ("Minoan") culture arose in Crete, to the south.

What is the largest island in the Cyclades?

The largest island of the Cyclades is Naxos, however the most populated is Syros.

How were the Cyclades formed?

Volcanic eruptions that took place before 35.000. 000 years (with the volcanic eruption of Santorini, 17th- 16th century B.C. being the most important) constitute part of the geological disruptions that shaped Aegais. In fables, Cyclades are connected with Poseidon in whom it's imputed their creation.

Why are churches in Santorini blue?

The blue dome churches are built on the slope of the caldera. The island of Santorini was built up by layers of lava. Major volcanic eruptions formed overlapping calderas (collapsed magma chambers). In the town of Oia, the two most famous blue-domed churches are built on the steep slope of the caldera.

What makes Santorini so special?

Santorini, Greece is one of the ultimate getaway destinations for a number of reasons. The small island has deep traditional roots, breathtaking views around every corner and is bursting with unique flavors. It offers many romantic settings and has plenty of natural landscapes to enjoy.

Can a foreigner buy property in Greece?

Can Foreigners Buy Property In Greece? Yes, they can. There are no restrictions as to who can purchase property in Greece, yet EU citizens or residents are considerably more advantageous in the process.

Why did Meryl Streep not do the second Mamma Mia?

The studio couldn't have wanted it more, given how much money the original made. But immediately, there was just a struggle. Not every story needs another chapter. So they couldn't really find a proper version that actually made dramatic sense."

Is Kalokairi a real island?

Many are lured to Skiathos and its neighbouring island, Skopelos, by Mamma Mia!, the 2008 rom-com musical set on “Kalokairi”, a fictional Greek island, where an all-star cast – headed by Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth – frolic to the hits of ABBA.

Why are all Greek houses 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.

Why are trees in Greece painted white?

Decoration is one of the reasons why tree trunks are painted white, but the main reason is that the Greeks believe that the white paint ensures that bacteria and vermin do not affect the trunk of the tree. They assume that the white-painted parts ensure that ants and other vermin do not climb into the tree.

Why are there so many churches in Greece?

Historically, the many churches and small chapels were built around the Greek Islands facing the sea to aid in the safe voyage and return of sailors.