Known for its cosmopolitanism and for its glorious past, the lady of the Saronic Gulf tempts us for a visit and promises an interesting history lesson that will bewilder us. Its picturesque stone-paved alleyways and its noble buildings take us back in time and share with us memories of the glorious Greek past mixing up truths and myths that will make us eager to learn more and more.

Hydra island knows very well how to bewilder the visitor with its past

but also with its cosmopolitan present.

One of the most significant buildings attracting the interest of the visitors, is the house of Lazaros Koundouriotis built during the glorious naval times of the island. Located on the west side of the island it now serves as a branch of the National History Museum. During our visit there we will see furniture, apparatus, paintings and personal belongings of the Koundouriotis family untouched by the years passing by. The upper floor hosts a collection of ornaments pertaining mainly to the island’s traditional art. At the ground floor where the cellar of the houses used to be, we can nowadays see paintings of two renowned Greek painters - Periklis Vizandios (1893-1972) and his son Konstantinos Vizandios (1924-2007) - which are on exhibition on a permanent basis.

Your journey back in time continues with a visit to the Hydra Museum of Historical Archives where you can admire an exhibition of significant paintings of the 19^th century, as well as, a plethora of ornaments dating back to the Greek Struggle of 1821 against the Turkish occupation. There is also a marvelous library consisting of volumes of Greek culture and history, 6.000 books plus old and rare editions most of which date back to the beginning of the 18^th century.

  

While in Hydra, do not omit a visit to the Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum which is hosted within the island’s Μetropolitan church that was built in the mid 17^th century and contains a rich selection of historical ornaments and religious hagiographies of the 18^th century and a particular depiction of Virgin Mary dating as far back as the year 1774.

Welcome to one of the country’s most beautiful destinations. To an island with close proximity to the capital, bearing its own rich history, a glorious past and a bright future.

For your accommodation select to stay at Leto Hotel. Enter its bright-white painted microcosm and enjoy good times characterized by decorative stylings to your outmost relaxation, as well as to beautiful surroundings and antique furnishings within a supremely interesting architectural setting.

From: Eva Kanellopoulos

back