Hydra

Hydra with the continuous offering in tourism and cultural life of our country, remains the adornment of the saronic gulf and one of the most important resorts of Greece. Hydra is the headquarter of the Cathedral of Hydra - Spetses - Poros - Aigina.

The name of Hydra is owed to the rich waters, which sprang out from the quarries which existed in the antiquity. The first residents of the island where the Dryopes. Historians mention the island by the name of Hydreas and in the interiors have been saved signs of ancient settlements. From very early, Hydra was used as a nautical station, and as a result, it starred in the sea commerce and communications. Special flush presented the commerce towards the end of the 18th century and in the beginning of the 19th. Then, the Hydrians have taken the chance of using the English-French argument and cashed in on great profits.

The help of Hydra in the ethnic-liberating Battle of 1821 was important. The Holy Battle's eves, find the island financial and polemic ready. It offered 130 ready to battle ships, with a tonnage of 30.000 tonnes, 5.400 men and 2.400 cannons. The Hydrian fleet dominated in sea during the seven year agon, contributting this way resolutely to the freedom of Greece, sacrificing human lifes, ships and money.

The town which is the centre of the whole island, is built amphitheatrically, around the port. It looks glamorous like an art-paint, with grey, white and blue colours above the blue of the sea, an exemplar of architectonics and aesthetics. Right and left from the entrance of the port, there are the parapets with the canons, which protected the city.

At the left side of the port, after the statue of A. Miaoulis, there is the Port Authority, which is lodged in the old, stonebuilt gunpowder dump. Next, there is the marble building of the files of Hydra and follows the house of Tsamados family, where is lodged the famous Captain School. The road leads to the gym and the pine-clad area of the abbey of Saint Fotini. The road which begins from the middle of the port, leads to the Good Wells. Continuing, it ascends to the abbey of prophet Elias (1815) and the abbey of Saint Eutaksy (1821).

In the center of the port is located the cathedral which was built in 1648 and reconstructed in 1774. Aforetime operated as the abbey of the Assumption. Today, in the abbey, is located the headquarters of the Town Hall and the ecclesiastic museum. Right of the abbey of the Assumption, begins a tight, paved, ascending road, which leads to the old city, Kiafa.

Main point type of Hydra is that there are no wheeled vehicles and the transfers are being made only by donkeys, a thing that makes it even more graphic. The port of Hydra submerges daily from little and big yachts, boats and cruisers.