Wherever you set foot in Santorini, you must remember that you are on a volcano.
About 3,600 years ago, a powerful volcanic eruption destroyed the ancient city of Santorini, Akrotiri, and dealt a fatal blow to the seafaring Minoan civilization that had settled on the island at the time. Today, Santorini - also known as Thira - is one of the most romantic places in Greece with luxury villas and resorts.
Santorini is part of the Helen Volcanic Arc, one of the most important volcanic fields in Europe, which has seen over 100 eruptions over the past 400,000 years. The most active and potentially dangerous underwater volcano, Kolumbo, is five miles northeast of Santorini and part of the same volcanic system.
Immersed in the Aegean Sea, Columbus has been quiet for almost 400 years - but he is not asleep. The last time it erupted, in 1650, it killed 70 people and caused a tsunami, strong earthquakes and aftershocks, along with toxic gas and plumes of smoke.
Scientists know that the Columbus explosion could cause a lot of damage. For years, experts have been carrying out expeditions and monitoring of the area has increased in the last 20 years.
Thanks to its global fame, Santorini has seen some of the biggest tourism investments in the country. However, geologists - who are closely monitoring Columbus - warn that it is only a matter of time before a major eruption strikes again.
However, "time" in geological years can be extremely slow. So much so that a real estate agent on the island told CNN that "volcanic activity is never mentioned" when selling a property.
Scientists have no way of knowing when the next eruption will occur. One day, Santorini may again be engulfed by a layer of ash. But for now, the volcano lies dormant.
