Three things that made the island of Hydra in Greece different from the rest. Holidays on the Greek island of Hydra: beaches, entertainment and attractions How to get to Hydra

Hydra was the last island of our 10-day sailing trip in the Aegean Sea.
And I must say that it was not in vain that we left the most delicious for the end.
Hydra is an incredibly colorful island, completely different from the others we visited on this trip, soulful and completely devoid of cars...
No one is in a hurry here, there is always a forest of yacht masts in a small cozy marina, here is one of the most delicious cappuccinos in the world.
The famous film "Dolphin Boy" with Sophia Loren in the title role was filmed here and many celebrities like to visit here...

2. Hydra Island is located very close to the eastern coast of the Peloponnese Peninsula and is part of the Saronic Islands group.
The relative proximity to the major port of Piraeus has made this island one of the favorite holiday destinations for the residents of Athens.
During peak season, the permanent population of approximately 3,000 people simply gets lost among the numerous tourists.

3. In ancient times, Hydra was a sparsely populated island, Herodotus mentions it only briefly, and the first major settlement dates back only to the Mycenaean era.
But everything changed in the 16th century. At this time, Hydra became a refuge for those who were trying to escape the constant clashes between the Venetian Republic and the Ottoman Empire. These were mainly refugees from the territory of modern Albania.
In the middle of the 18th century, the inhabitants of the island began to build ships and engaged in maritime trade. At the same time, without disdaining piracy.
They sailed to Egypt and the Black Sea, and during the Napoleonic Wars they transported goods to England, despite the ban stipulated by the law on the Continental Blockade.

4. Since the island paid taxes on time, the Ottoman Empire practically did not pay attention to it and by the 19th century Hydra had gained power and strength. The vast majority of stately mansions on the island were built with the money of local merchants. At the zenith of Hydra's power in 1821, the island's population was 28 thousand inhabitants (now about 3 thousand). During the Greek War of Independence, the island provided 150 ships to participate in the fighting.
Moreover, it was this island that gave Greece outstanding military leaders - Admiral Andreas Miaoulis and the commander of the Greek fleet Georg Kandouriotis.

5. After the liberation of the country, maritime and trade centers began to gradually move, initially to Ermoupolis, the island of Syros, and then to Piraeus. As steamships and steel shipbuilding were introduced into the navy, Hydra fell into decline by the beginning of the 20th century.
At the same time, the island gave Greece several famous artists and inspired the work of world-famous artists such as Picasso, Pablo and Chagall, Mark Zakharovich. Since 1936, a branch of the Athens School of Fine Arts has been operating here.
Today Hydra is an island for tourists, and in its small marina, even in the off-season, it is quite difficult to find a free place to moor a yacht

6. The main port of the island is the city of the same name Hydra.
This is far from an ordinary port. There is always a clear sense of how this place is connected to the past thanks to the rising amphitheater of cafes and mansions, creating the atmosphere of a performance in which the island itself is the main participant.

7. The history and entire existence of the island is inextricably linked with Athens. Now this is a vacation spot for representatives of the aristocracy and bohemians of the Greek capital, who are tired of the rhythms of life in the metropolis and want to change their daily routine as much as possible, enjoy the pristine beauty of the island, warm up on foot - and all this is an hour’s journey from the port of Piraeus. Therefore, this unique “island of the capital” attracts many famous people from Greece and from all over the world, among the fans of the island are: Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Quinn, Joan Collins, Arius Onassis, Maria Calas, Jackie Kennedy Onassi, fashion designer Valentino . Leonard Cohen, the owner of a charming timbre, lived on Hydra for a long time. The island is very popular among representatives of creative professions; during the six-month season, various creative exhibitions and meetings are constantly held on the island.

8. The tourist fame of the island was promoted by the film “Boy on a Dolphin,” filmed on the island in 1957 with Sophia Loren in the title role.
In 2006, a sculpture of the same name dedicated to the film was even installed here.

9. One important feature of Hydra is that it is the only island in Greece on which the use of motor vehicles is completely prohibited - from a car to the smallest scooter. There aren't even bicycles here.

10. The only means of transport and transportation around the island are motor boats, mules and donkeys (I will talk about this in a separate post)

11. The architecture of the island is very organic and thoroughly imbued with Mediterranean flavor and the spirit of history

12. Narrow streets with a huge number of cafes and taverns spread out from the harbor in different directions along the hills. Tables often stand right on the pavement, attracting tourists

13. On the narrow streets everything is mixed together - different eras, shops, cafes, people, living plants in tubs and pots.

14. You never know where this or that narrowing street will lead

15. Geometry of Hydra

16. Crossroads

17. Residential buildings

18. Dark alley...

19. .... at the end of which you suddenly find yourself at the top of another hill with a beautiful view of the rooftops of the city

20. And again geometry

21. Local residents..

22...very good-natured and friendly

23. Trade is carried out right on the narrow streets. Cafe-shop-shop-vegetable rows-residential building...

24. Hardware store. You can immediately see which goods are most in demand on the island.
Try it, buy a boat anchor in Moscow or Kyiv)

25. Construction store

26. And again vegetable rows

27. The most vegetables are sold here. After the souvenirs

28. And early in the morning, fishermen sell their fresh catch directly from their boats.

29. The tiles of houses on Hydra are not at all similar to those used here

30. Lemon. Female...

31. Cactus. Male

32. Still life with panties and basket

33. Lanterns and pillows

34. Cafe right next to the pier. You woke up on a yacht, took two steps, and now you’re drinking an incredibly delicious cappuccino.

35. Cafe and town hall

36. If anything, everything here is quite inexpensive....

37. Early in the morning of May 9, we left the yacht marina of Hydra Island, heading for our last passage - to the port of Piraeus...

My previous photo reports and photo stories:

In Greek transcription, the name of the island sounds like Hydra, which means “water”. And initially it was mentioned under the name Idrea, which spoke of the presence of a large number of water sources. Later, for Russian ears, the sound of the name of the island was adapted into the more understandable “Hydra”, which is still used even in official sources.

What attracts and surprises this island? First of all, the lack of vehicles and, as a result, the cleanliness of the air. In fact, upon arrival at this sunny place you will not encounter the usual traffic. The only thing the island hasn't gotten rid of is garbage trucks. However, they rarely move through the streets solely on work.

Tours to Hydra island foreign tourists began to purchase for the first time in the 20th century. Today you can find a wide selection of recreation options here. First of all, lovers of solitude and silence come here. The capital of the island is built in the shape of an amphitheater and you will find the most beautiful houses made of stone. Some of them even house museums.

If your understanding of a holiday in Greece must include visiting holy places, on the island of Hydra you will find such an opportunity. To do this, just go to Monastery of the Prophet Elijah, built at an altitude of 500 meters from sea level. Not only religious travelers, but also lovers of natural beauty strive to get there.

The best beaches on Hydra island

Tours to the island of Hydra are in demand, including due to the possibility of a beach holiday. The local beaches are very distinctive; they are mainly characterized by a rocky bottom. The lack of sand is more than compensated by the purity of the waters.

One of Spilia is considered the best beach. It is located closest to the city of Hydra, which makes this place attractive due to the lack of road transport. Vacationers can find many cafes and cozy restaurants here.

Avlak Beach and is located away from shops and cafes, has a rocky bottom, a pier and a marina. The local waters are cool and deep, so most often adults without children relax here.

Vlykos Beach created specifically for lovers of solitude. The close location to the village of Vlikos makes it very convenient. When going here, you don’t have to worry about food in advance, because there are taverns and shops in the village. On the shore you will find a lot of small pebbles and sand. The seabed in this place is not very rocky, and the natural beauty attracts vacationers here every year.

Plakes Vlykos Beach(four seasons) - located near the hotel with the same name. This place is often visited by couples with children, who prefer a sandy bottom to a pebble one. The beach is equipped with sun loungers. The most convenient way to get here is to take a water taxi.

Bisti Beach- located in the southern part of the island. Here you will find a lot of white pebbles, clean air, a magnificent pine grove and all the conditions for a comfortable holiday with children. Not far from the beach there are restaurants and bars, and there is the opportunity to go scuba diving and dive to the bottom.

Hydra Island Museums

For those who want to diversify their beach holiday with excursions, there is the opportunity to visit local museums. For example, the Museum of Byzantine and ecclesiastical art "Monastiri" located in Mitropoli. Tourists are invariably amazed by the architecture of this building, built in the 17th century, as well as its unique collection of rare icons and church relics.

To look at the masterpieces of post-Byzantine art, it is worth visiting the house-museum of Georgos Kountouriotis. In it you will find exhibits dedicated to the formation and development of Greece.

But the most frequently visited place is Hydra Museum, containing a historical archive. Exhibits from the 18th-20th centuries are presented here. Collections include weapons, nautical charts, outfits and devices for moving on water. The local library includes more than 4,000 different books. The archives section contains information about the history and culture of the island, including chronicles, personal archives and church papers.

Salamis (Salamin) - the biggest of them all. The ruins of the ancient acropolis are preserved here, as well as the monastery of Our Lady (Phaneromeni) with ancient Byzantine frescoes.

Aegina- an island that has long been famous for its ceramic products. Located just half an hour from Athens, Aegina is famous for its extensive pistachio plantations. Here is also one of the most remarkable monuments of antiquity - the Temple of Athena-Athea.

Poros- an island immersed in greenery with a clean coastline and the picturesque monastery of Our Lady of Life-Giving (Zoodokhu Pigis).

Hydra (Hydra)- a charming small island, devoid of cars, a favorite vacation spot for people of art and the intelligentsia.

Spetses- the most distant island from Athens. A special flavor is given to it by horse-drawn carriages, which are one of the means of transportation around the island, white houses and mansions with courtyards strewn with pebbles, decorated with exotic fiery red flowers hanging over white fences. And, of course, the seaport, where fishmongers, taverns and shops selling handicrafts are located.

Last time we visited the island of Aegina. Near the island of Aegina is Island of Hydra (Hydra).. That's where we're heading.

The post was compiled based on reviews from tourists.

HYDRA ISLAND

The island of Hydra (“Hydra” in Greek) belongs to the group of islands of the Argo-Saronic Gulf off the eastern coast of the Peloponnese. The area of the island is just under 50 square meters. km, population about 3,000 people. Hydra is a unique Greek island - all mechanical means of transportation are completely prohibited here: cars, motorcycles and even bicycles! Only two types of transport are available: sea - in the form of ferries and taxi ferries, ready to whisk you away to any shore of the island in a matter of minutes; and four-legged - in the person of hard-working donkeys, ready to slowly deliver you on their backs so that you can enjoy the piercingly clean air of the island!

Hydra Island is a charming little island with narrow medieval streets and many restaurants and cafes located right on the waterfront.

Here you can ride a donkey or horse through the narrow streets of the city.

Impressive buildings of strict forms are visible from afar on the hillside. These are “archondica” - houses built in the Middle Ages, mainly by the owners of ships, who were the flower of the local society. During the Turkish conquest, Hydra almost achieved autonomy and was freed from taxes. This is the heyday of the city. In the middle of the 18th century, the construction of the first sea vessels began. It was the wealthy shipowners who laid down the first beautiful buildings that everyone still admires today.

Hydra Island is a favorite vacation spot for the capital's bohemia. Writers and artists come here in winter, when the flow of tourists has subsided. The island is also famous for its inexpensive silver and gold items.

History of the island

Since the Middle Ages, Hydra was inhabited by fishermen and sailors, who with each generation became more and more professional sailors and successful traders, due to which by the beginning of the 19th century Hydra began to be called “little England” - the number of wealthy shipowners was so large for such a small island. The population of the island was then about 30,000 people (the majority were people who came here in search of refuge), and the fleet consisted of about 120 modern, well-equipped ships that made it possible to conduct maritime trade without fear of the ships of the Ottoman Empire and Mediterranean pirates.

At that time there were rich shipowners here - the Kountouriotis brothers, Miaoulis, Sakhturis, Tobasis and others, who equipped ships at their own expense, spending entire fortunes to help the uprising. The Hydra fleet, in cooperation with the fleets of the islands of Spetses and Psara, inflicted very significant damage on the Turkish fleet. The exploits and heroism of these sailors were known throughout Europe. In addition to ships, the islander sailors also used the so-called “fireships” (“arsonists”) - small boats loaded with explosive materials that sailed up to Turkish ships at night and blew them up. The victories of the inhabitants of Hydra and their comrades at sea became the main factor in the success of the struggle of the Greek people.

It was then that rich mansions, 6 monasteries and more than 300 churches were built, making up the modern picture of the island. In 1821, the liberation struggle of the Greeks for independence from the Ottoman Empire began. Almost 2/3 of the Greek fleet were Hydra ships, and who knows how much the shipowners of the small island devastated their gold reserves for the sake of the great victory of the Greek people! It is not surprising that many prominent representatives of the Greek Republic - politicians and military officers - are natives of the island. You can mention just admirals, and members of parliament, and five prime ministers, and the first president of Greece - Admiral Pavlos Koundoriotis.

The history and entire existence of the island of Hydra is inextricably linked with Athens. This is a vacation spot for representatives of the aristocracy and bohemians of the Greek capital, who are tired of the rhythms of life in the metropolis and want to change their daily routine as much as possible, enjoy the pristine beauty of the island, warm up on foot - and all this is an hour’s journey from the port of Piraeus!

Therefore, this unique “island of the capital” attracts many famous people from Greece and from all over the world, among the fans of the island are: Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Quinn, Joan Collins, Arius Onassis, Maria Calas, Jackie Kennedy Onassi, fashion designer Valentino . Leonard Cohen, the owner of a charming timbre, lived on Hydra for a long time. The island is very popular among representatives of creative professions; during the six-month season, various creative exhibitions and meetings are constantly held on the island.

And at the same time, Hydra is a very democratic place where anyone feels very easy and at ease and will find everything that Greece is rich in - the cleanest sea and beaches, mountains with cypress and pine trees, excellent Greek seafood cuisine and sun, sun, sun - every sunrise and the sunset will be yours alone!

Hydra, city and harbor.

The beach is sandy, but there are many flat slabs covered with shells, so to swim you have to go far into the sea, it’s very shallow.

The port of Hydra is impressive - a large water area, in the waters of which numerous yachts quietly sway, surrounded on three sides by mountains, along the slopes of which two-story, mostly gray, turret houses with small “loopholes” windows climb up. The stone-paved embankment is strewn with numerous cafes and shops for tourists.

Hydra compares favorably with Poros due to the lack of vehicles, but for my taste, the benefit ends there, because nowhere else in Greece have we seen such high stone fences and bars on the windows as on Hydra - complete closedness and separation from the outside world.

There are probably reasons for the passionate desire of local residents to protect their personal lives from prying eyes, but... Somehow this closeness does not fit with my ideas about Greece and the Greeks. However, the rich have their own quirks - after all, Hydra in guidebooks is often called an elite island where Athenian bohemians buy houses, and bohemian people are well-known eccentrics from the point of view of the common man.

There are cute donkeys everywhere, ready to give you a ride around the island.

A bay surrounded by rocks, a gray boring landscape, boats, low-rise austere houses with tiled roofs, no vegetation.
Her main charm was inside. First of all, Hydra captivates with its ancient architecture.
These are ancient streets, narrow alleys that provide shade from the heat in summer, paved paths, and unexpected dead ends. The city has no modern buildings; it is a solid and perfect ensemble, a true example of Greek island culture.

The white houses reflected the dazzling light of the May sun with their walls.

Cats also hide in the shadows.

Bougainvillea bushes amaze with their bright colors. They say that sometimes they litter all the streets with petals.

In general, the colors of Hydra are white (the color of houses), blue (the color of the sea) and red (the color of bougainvilleas).
Local residents were occasionally seen on the streets.

Some went about their daily work, carrying loads on donkeys. Without donkeys this really would not have been possible.

Some houses and palazzos seem like small palaces.

These houses were built by captains, who were a kind of aristocracy of the island. Gradually, most of the merchant captains and shipowners left for Piraeus, whose port was rebuilt by the Greeks in the 19th century. But their houses remained. Such details on the streets remind us of the maritime past of the owners of the houses, and perhaps their present.

And there are steps all around. Stairs, steps, stairs, steps... To enjoy your stay on Hydra, you cannot limit yourself to just the embankment, you must definitely go upstairs.

In Hydra you can get lost, but you won’t get lost, there’s a rock at the top and the sea at the bottom, there are enough landmarks. Here comes the dead end.

I stood on a small platform, and below me lay a gorgeous bay and the entire port in full view.

There are no ancient monuments left on Hydra; the island was sparsely populated for a long time. And even now Hydra is the only city on the island; I read in the guidebook that there are several more monasteries in the mountains on the island. But there are no tourists there, because... It's hard to get there on your own. Its heyday began in the 18th century, when its port was chosen by traders and, they say, also by pirates. In those days, the population of Hydra reached 30 thousand people (and now it is about 3 thousand). Wandering along these old streets, where drunken sailors, brave officers, foreigners, adventurers, and partisans probably used to walk, it is easy to imagine that once upon a time there was a vibrant life here, there were fights, duels, robberies, trade deals were concluded here, history was made here modern Greece. The surrounding cannons on the embankment and powerful stone fortifications in the bay remind us of the city’s military past.

But when the war with the Ottoman Empire for the liberation of Greece began in 1821, it was Hydra ships that made up more than half of the Greek fleet. But there is also a monument associated with Russia in this town. This is the house called “Casa Orloff”, the commander of the Russian naval expedition, Count Orlov, once lived here, a memorial plaque on the house reminds of this.

It was midday, street restaurants and cafes were still empty.

In one of the squares there grew several what appeared to be tangerine trees.

But the white donkey is impatiently waiting for its owner. Somehow I can’t bear to call them donkeys:!:

I wanted to take watercolors and brushes, sit in the shade of a branchy tree or under the awning of a coastal cafe and draw, draw, draw... These sad donkeys, the busy embankment, boats, yachts, the surface of the sea, fishing nets...

It is no coincidence that the island is very popular with many artists and there are several galleries on the island.

There are six monasteries and many churches on the island. A few steps from the center of the embankment rises the bell tower of a large old monastery, where one of the richest captains of the island, Lazarus Koundouriotis, a participant in the Greek War of Independence, is buried.

The Aegean Sea in the Gulf of Hydra is amazingly beautiful, some kind of blue-emerald color. The water is clean, the bottom is transparent. It's easy to verify this. Despite the fact that there are no beaches in the city of Hydra itself, you can easily swim in the sea. On the left side of the embankment there are many cafes and restaurants, at the foot of which there are platforms with an equipped descent into the sea.

Everything is completely free, if you want, go down and swim, or if you want, sit in a cafe and admire the sea views.

And then I sat in the restaurant upstairs. What else can you drink on the island with the mythical name Hydra? Of course, Greek beer "Mythos". At least submit a photo to the myth competition on TBG!

Looking at this watery peace and tranquility, a certain feeling of unreality appears. The sea is so close that it seems to be just a stone's throw away.

By the way, it’s quite possible to stay on Hydra for several days. It's quite easy to find a room or cheap boarding house in the city, with many locals offering them at the port or posting rental signs on the streets.

In fact, the entire town lives off tourists.
Hydra is one of the most beautiful places in Greece. This island is a place where many celebrities come to relax, which is why it has such a bohemian aura.

Refuge of aristocrats around the world - Hydra island- is distinguished by the complete absence of motor transport: on steep slopes cars would be a burden, and donkeys and mules easily cope with local transportation. The second difference is that there are a lot of semi-wild cats; they come out to the pier of every approaching ship and fawn over tourists, begging for food. The third difference is the exquisite taste of the islanders in the design of walls and windows. And the last difference, the most unpleasant one, is that there are no sources of fresh water on Hydra, so every morning a tanker is driven to the island from Athens.

These houses with tiled roofs of traditional architecture make an unforgettable impression from the first minute of your stay on the island.

Near the port of Hydra there are massive old rich captains' houses from 1821 (built by Genoese and Venetian architects) - Kountouriotis, Tobasis (which houses the Faculty of Fine Arts), Voulgaris, Miaoulis, Kriezis and Tsamados (where the Merchant Marine School is located).

Some of these houses are open to the public, allowing you to explore the interiors, which feature marble floors, wooden ceilings and antique furniture. At the exit from the port there are ancient cannons that defended the city.

These houses are cubic in shape with only one terrace, sometimes with one yard. There are flowers in the courtyards that are not easy to see from the outside because the stone walls are high. The color of the houses is usually grey. Strict forms and lines dominate everywhere. However, a white frame around the window is enough to eliminate monotony and give homes a welcoming look.

The first among Hydra's admirers are people of art, especially artists. Therefore, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Athens Polytechnic Institute opened its branch here.

Currently, the main occupation of the island's population is tourism, petty trade and the extraction of sea sponges. You could ride these horses lined up on the embankment:

The central part of the town, the so-called Hora, picturesque and colorful:

And the traders on Hydra seem to speak all languages, and, nodding their heads that their prices on the outside are “all lies,” they rush to lure people inside their shops.

In the middle of the embankment, near the sea stands Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, where the Hydra Cathedral currently stands.

In the courtyard there is a statue of the hero of Hydra - Miaoulis.

The second bust is most likely Saint Macarius Notaras, Metropolitan of Corinth, the founder of “philocalism”, who lived here for some time:

A few more pictures of the monastery courtyard:

In the 20th century, Hydra became the first Greek island open to foreign tourists; in 1956, John Negulesco filmed his famous film "Boy on a Dolphin" with Sophia Loren and Alan Ladd on Hydra.

and in 1960, Michael Cacoyannis - the film "Phaedra" with Anthony Perkins, Ralph Vallone and Melina Mercouri. Among the fans of the island are: Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Quinn, Joan Collins, Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, fashion designer Valentino. Leonard Cohen, the owner of a charming timbre, lived on Hydra for a long time.

And a few more videos about the beautiful island of Hydra.

Hydra is an incredibly colorful city on the island of the same name. Visiting it, you are involuntarily transported to the serene past of pastoral Greece with its small snow-white houses, mountains, and a forest of swaying masts. Amazingly, Idra manages to live with many contradictions. Athenians love to come here, but the streets are never crowded. The city has always been considered a holiday destination for the rich and famous, but prices are nevertheless quite reasonable. This means that Hydra is open to everyone. Mules and donkeys - the main means of transportation and cargo transportation on the island - do not care what the rider's salary is.

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How to get to Hydra

The easiest way to get to Hydra is through Athens. Upon arrival at the airport, you need to take the metro and get to the Piraeus station. Ferries and hydrofoils regularly depart from the capital's main port to Hydra. Travel time (75 km): 1 hour.

Transport

An important feature of the city is a complete ban on the operation of any vehicles - from cars to bicycles and scooters. However, when you start moving along the narrow streets, you realize that even without this law, cars are simply not needed here. Communication between settlements on the island is provided by water taxis, and in the city - by donkeys.

Search for air tickets to Athens (the nearest airport to Hydra)

Hotels in Hydra

There are no large hotels in Hydra; tourists are accommodated in family hotels and apartments. All housing options are located in old buildings (construction of new ones is prohibited). A night in a guest house will cost 50-60 EUR, in a standard double room in a four-star hotel - 120-140 EUR. You can rent an apartment for 70 EUR per day. There are no hostels in the city. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

Cafes and restaurants

Hydra has a huge selection of establishments for every budget and for every occasion. Do you want to sit a few meters from the pier and look at the swaying masts of the yachts? Please just keep in mind that everything is very expensive in the harbor area, and 3 EUR for a cup of cappuccino is normal. A romantic evening with a dish of fresh squid or fish with a side dish of fennel and a bottle of wine will cost 60-80 EUR for two. More affordable prices and a democratic atmosphere in taverns. Delicious “moussaka”, “keftedakia” (meatballs) with a side dish of potatoes - all this goes well with a bottle of cold beer and costs between 20-25 EUR per person. The most popular local fast food is the same as on the mainland: gyros generously seasoned with tzatziki sauce.

Attractions of Hydra

There are really no iconic places in the city. All of Hydra is one big attraction. No ancient monuments have survived here, since the region was sparsely populated in Hellenic times. There are no beaches either; the entire embankment is covered with concrete slabs. The most “postcard” symbol of the city is considered to be the building next to the marina, the so-called “archondica”. The picturesque mansions were built several centuries ago according to designs by Genoese and Venetian architects for wealthy islander shipowners. Many of them still have signs near the entrance: “Ikiya...” (that is, “Dwelling...”) - and the name of the owners. Right there on the embankment stands the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary with the Hydra Cathedral and the clock tower. It is worth noting that there are a lot of small churches in the city. Then begins the typical Greek island development with ancient streets, narrow alleys, paved paths leading to dead ends. And a huge number of steps.

If walking in the summer sun is tiring, you can cool down a little, and at the same time you can learn about the history of the city in one of the few museums. On the eastern embankment there is the Historical and Archival Museum, which displays archaeological finds, fine art from various eras, clothing, latrine figures adorning the bow of the ship, bladed weapons and firearms from the Greek War of Independence (early 19th century). Entrance: 4 EUR, office. website (in English).

In the western part of the town, a luxurious mansion rises above a restored water mill. This is another museum, the House of Koundouriotis (opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 10:00-17:00; entrance: 4 EUR) with coffered ceilings and a rich collection of works of Greek painting. The Koundouriotis family is very famous in Greece - the wealthy shipowner Georgios participated in the War of Independence. His great-grandson Pavlos commanded the Greek fleet in the victorious naval battles of Elli and Lemnos, and in the 1920s. was elected president of the country. Here, in front of the mansion, above a steep cliff among the pine trees, is his grave.

Weather

From spring to mid-autumn, Hydra is always hot and sunny. In winter, strong winds dominate here. Of course, most tourists come here in the summer, but visiting Hydra in the off-season is also a great success: you can see how the city lives its mysterious non-tourist life.

The island of Hydra (Hydra) is a small rocky island - it is also the southernmost point of the globe, where I have visited so far and one of the most beautiful places in Greece. The distance to Piraeus is 37 nautical miles, the journey time by ship is 3 hours.

Lying between the Saronic and Argolid Gulfs, the island of Hydra has an area of 50 square meters. km, and the length of its coastline is 55 km. Hydra is a mountainous island. The highest mountain is Eros (593 m), the population is less than 3,000 inhabitants. Unlike the other islands of the Argosaronic Gulf, Hydra is mostly an island devoid of vegetation, with pine trees growing only in the southwest. The oldest settlement discovered on the island dates back to the Mycenaean era. Hydra was subsequently captured by Ermioni, who then sold it to the Samians. Hydra continued to eke out an inconspicuous existence until the 17th century, when the island gradually acquired a powerful merchant fleet, which later, during the Napoleonic wars, monopolized shipping throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

It is difficult to find another island city like this. A round port with yachts, surrounded by rocky mountains, on which two- and three-story houses stand almost close to each other from the embankment and almost to the very mountain peaks.

Since the Middle Ages, Hydra was inhabited by fishermen and sailors, who with each generation became more and more professional sailors and successful traders, due to which by the beginning of the 19th century Hydra began to be called “little England” - the number of wealthy shipowners was so large for such a small island. The population of the island at that time was about 25,000 people, and the fleet consisted of about 120 modern, well-equipped ships, which made it possible to conduct maritime trade without fear of the ships of the Ottoman Empire and Mediterranean pirates. It was then that rich mansions, 6 monasteries and more than 300 churches were built, making up the modern picture of the island.

I ran around the deck with my camera, trying to capture the views of the rapidly approaching island:

These houses with tiled roofs of traditional architecture make an unforgettable impression from the first minute of your stay on the island.

It must be said that by the beginning of the national liberation war against the Turks in 1821, the population of Hydra was about 30,000 people (the majority were people who came here in search of refuge), and the number of ships reached 150. At that time, there were rich shipowners - the brothers Kuntouriotis, Miaoulis, Sakhturis , Tobasis and others, who equipped ships at their own expense, spending fortunes to assist the uprising. The Hydra fleet, in cooperation with the fleets of the islands of Spetses and Psara, inflicted very significant damage on the Turkish fleet. The exploits and heroism of these sailors were known throughout Europe. In addition to ships, the islander sailors also used the so-called “fireships” (“arsonists”) - small boats loaded with explosive materials that sailed up to Turkish ships at night and blew them up. The victories of the inhabitants of Hydra and their comrades at sea became the main factor in the success of the struggle of the Greek people.

The first among Hydra's admirers are people of art, especially artists. Therefore, the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Athens Polytechnic Institute opened its branch here.

The anchor is dropped in the port of Hydra:

As already mentioned, the inhabitants of Hydra have long been engaged in navigation and shipbuilding; they made a significant contribution to equipping the Greek fleet during the national liberation war against the Turks. Another view of the fort with cannons:

Currently, the main occupation of the island's population is tourism, petty trade and the extraction of sea sponges. You could ride these horses lined up on the embankment:

Garbage trucks are the only motorized transport on this piece of land. All other motor vehicles are outlawed - cars, motorcycles and even bicycles! Therefore, local residents and tourists, in addition to their own two people, use everything possible - from “water taxis” to donkeys. The owner of this vehicle, which passed us with a clicking sound, is a typical Greek, tanned, thin, unshaven:

The central part of the town, the so-called Hora, picturesque and colorful:

And the traders on Hydra seem to speak all languages, and, nodding their heads that their prices on the outside are “all lies,” they rush to lure people inside their shops.

In the middle of the embankment, near the sea, stands the Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, where the Hydra Cathedral is currently located.

In the courtyard there is a statue of the hero of Hydra - Miaoulis.

The second bust is most likely Saint Macarius Notaras, Metropolitan of Corinth, founder of “philocalism”, who lived here for some time:

A few more pictures of the monastery courtyard:

In the 20th century, Hydra became the first Greek island open to foreign tourists. John Negulesco filmed his famous film “Boy on a Dolphin” with Sophia Loren and Alan Ladd on Hydra in 1956, and in 1960 Jules Dassin filmed “Phaedra” with Anthony Perkins, Ralph Vallone and Melina Mercuri. Among the fans of the island are: Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Quinn, Joan Collins, Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, fashion designer Valentino. Leonard Cohen, the owner of a charming timbre, lived on Hydra for a long time.

This completed our cruise around the islands and on the way back we admired the bizarre play of clouds and the setting sun:

There the waves will rush in at dawn
The beach is sandy and empty,
And thirty beautiful knights
From time to time clear waters emerge,
And with them is their sea uncle...
- it looks like it, doesn’t it?