Hydra Island (Greece, Saronic Islands)

Hydra is a particularly popular island destination for both foreign tourists and Athenians.   An extremely picturesque island, with rich mansions, unique architecture and cosmopolitan style.

The homonym city is constructed amphitheatrically around the harbor being the only settlement of the island.    It is characterized by its traditional houses with tiled roofs, bright blue doors, and windows.    It owes its name to the abundant waters that sprang from the rich springs it had in antiquity.

It has significant naval history and tradition. Renovated mansions, the old picturesque harbor with the bowls and cannons, the museums, the monasteries, the naval school, make up the image of the island, which testifies to its important historical significance.
During the 1821 Revolution, Hydra played an important role because of its great naval power.

The city of Hydra, which is also the only town on the island, has been declared preserved and the circulation of the vehicles is forbidden.

Hydra for decades is one of the favorite destinations of Greek and foreign visitors. There are 300 churches and five monasteries on the island.

Hydra is connected by boat with the other islands of Argosaronic, as well as Methana, Ermioni, Porto Heli, Nafplio, Tyros and also is accessible from Piraeus.

Sightseeings

The visitor who comes to Hydra its worth to make a visit to the Manors of islands, to see  the Bastion with the cannons, right and left of the harbor, which protected the settlement of Hydra and the museums.

MANSION HOUSES IN HYDRA

Next to the Port Authority is the marble building that houses the Historical Archive-Museum of Hydra and follows the house of the Tsamados family, home to the famous School of Captains of the Commercial Navy.

Lazaros Koundouriotis historical mansion

Lazaros Koundouriotis historical mansion is a typical example of the traditional Hydra architecture. It was built at the end of the 18th century.

Lazaros Kountouriotis (1769-1852) was an important political figure both in the pre-revolutionary years and during the Greek War of Independence of 1821.

In his residence, there were important consultations on issues of rebellion in 1821 and Greek and foreign important personalities of the time were hosted.
In 1979 his home was presented to the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece to become a museum.

Αmong the exhibits are traditional costumes, embroidery, woven, ceramic, wood carved or repaired ornamental or other utilitarian article ceramic, hydriot kerchiefs,  paintings, naval weapons, old furniture, utensils, dinnerware, paintings, family portraits, personal belongings and relics of the Kountourioti family.

Mansion House of  Lazaros Tsamados where the School of Captains of the Commerical Navy is.

The School of Captains of the Commercial Navy began operating immediately after the 1821 Revolution and is the oldest school of captains of the commercial navy in the Eastern Mediterranean; nowadays it is housed in the mansion of Lazaros Tsamados.

Mansion House of Tompazis

RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS IN HYDRA

Monastery of Kimiseos of Theotokos-Byzantine Museum

It is a small Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum in which it exhibits vestments, heirlooms, tributes, and icons mainly from the 18th century.

It is housed in the area of old cells, in the building of the Temple, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, the “Monastery”, as the Hydra Cathedral.

The historical file-museum of Hydras

There are exhibits from the Balkan Wars from the First and Second World Wars, there is a Historic Art Gallery with works of great painters and at the same time exhibits memories and relics from the time of the Revolution , also houses the Library with old valuable publications, the Historical Archive with manuscripts, documents and codes of the 18th and 19th century and various other archives.

Beaches

There are several beaches that cover all the attractions of the island’s visitors. Some of them are Spillia , Hydroneta, Avlaki, Kamini, Vithos, Mandraki, Limnioniza, Ag. Nikolaos.

Gastronomy

Do not forget to tase the marvelous almond toffees. They are very delicious.

Accessibility to Hydra

By ship from Piraeus or by car until Metochi Argolidas and from there in just 12 minutes with the small boats that are frequent ferries or by a water taxi.

There are held daily cruises, with flying dolphins, to the islands of Poros, Ermioni, Spetses and Porto Xeli.