Santorini: Portrait of a Vanished Era

In this lushly photographed anthology, photographer McCabe (Mykonos) shares 100 black-and-white images of the Greek island of Santorini taken between 1954 and 1964, showcasing the island before it became a popular tourist destination. He accompanies the photographs with informative anecdotes (“In July 1954, the island boasted only two working passenger vehicles,” he writes, next to an image of the island’s first bus) and intriguing facts (a caption of a pumice quarry reads, “Deep cavelike tunnels were carved into the quarry wall…to create a controlled collapse... which was then channeled down the cliffside into waiting ships”). There are images of breathtaking landscapes, volcanic eruptions, and churches erected on older volcanic formations. McCabe captures plenty of delightful scenes depicting everyday life, such as locals harvesting cherry tomatoes and villagers gathering for a baby’s baptism in Emborio. Greek journalist Pournara provides contextual essays on the island’s rich culture, including its history of winemaking and farming in “the moisture-filled ash” terrain. This is a gorgeous visual tribute to a celebrated Greek island. (Apr.)