Night photography of the Milky Way stretching above the ancient ruins of Oia Byzantine fortress in Santorini

This evocative night photograph captures the starry sky above the ruins of the Byzantine fortress in Oia, in the northern part of Santorini. The Milky Way stands out as a luminous band of stars crossing the dark blue Aegean night sky. In the foreground, the remains of the ancient castle built by the Venetians in the fifteenth century emerge in the darkness: ruined church domes, crumbling walls, and stone arches create evocative silhouettes against the firmament. The lights of nearby islands shine faintly on the horizon, while the caldera blends with the darkness of the sea. This view offers an unusual perspective of Oia, far from the daytime crowds, when silence and stars dominate this corner of the Cyclades rich in history.

Milky Way, Oia, fortress, night, stars, Santorini, ruins, astronomy, Cyclades