Talking about the virtues and beauties of the island of Hydra, one could easily loose track of time. So...where do we really start from when talking about the “Lady’ of the Saronic gulf?
Gazing at the island of Hydra as one approaches it by boat, the landscape resembles to a beautiful painting. Soon after your arrival, you will discover that the island does not only have a rich history to share, but also a dynamic artistic vein affluent at every direction. The island is bound to become an infinite source of inspiration through its eclectic artistic streak.
As far as its history is concerned, Hydra island is the island that gave birth to the most significant Greek sea Captains, whose power was so great that during the Greek Revolution in 1821 those Captains gathered together at the little port of the island, at least 130 ships ready for war and more than 2.500 canons! Nonetheless, the island’s reputation was not solely formulated by those great sea Captains…
The island of Hydra is also the birth place of as many as 5 Greek Prime Ministers: George Koundouriotis, Antonios Kriezis, Dimitrios Voulgaris, Athanassios Miaoulis and Petros Voulgaris, as well as, the birth place of the first ever sworn President of the Greek Democracy, Admiral Pavlos Koundouriotis.
Despite its highly vibrant past, Hydra island is what we nowadays refer to as a very “low-key” destination, so quiet and untouched by the waves of commercialism that it promises visitors a very relaxing and peaceful vacation. Visitors must keep in mind that the use of cars is prohibited across the island and apart from “walking it” to wherever it is that you want to go, you may also use the alternative means of transportation which is a donkey. So, indulge yourselves in walking along the cute narrow, stone-paved alleys of the main town and breath-in the distinct scents of the bougainvilleas. The island’s architecture will also fascinate you and you will be eager to find out the history behind every amazing Mansion you will come across in your charming walks.
Those charming walks you will take during your visit will be filled with specimens of art in various manners and this is actually a fact, since especially during the 1950’s the island constituted one of the most significant cultural centers of Greece. This is where important personalities of the world of the Arts and Letters would gather from both Greece and abroad, thus, transforming the small island into an attraction pole of artistic creation. The Greek poet Miltos Sahtouris and the great Greek painter Nikos Hatzikiriakos Ghikas were both born in Hydra.
This is the island that Periklis Vizandios selected to establish a branch of the School of Fine Arts back in 1936 at the Mansion house of Admiral Tombazis. A plethora of other personalities from the world of the Arts and Letters, have chosen to connect their bios with the island of Hydra. Among them, the famous Greek poets Yiorgos Seferis and Odisseas Elitis, the great Greek architect Dimitrios Pikionis, the exquisite Greek painter Eggonopoulos, as well as, Henry Miller. Last but not least, the songwriter and author Leonard Koen particularly loved the island and selected it for his summer residence which he still visits regularly.
