Hydra is one of the Greek islands located in Saronikos. It is about two hours from Athens and it attracts many tourists each year!
So let’s dive into some trivia and facts about this island!
- Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece
- It is located in the Aegean Sea between the Myrotoan Sea and the Argolic Gulf
- It is separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strip of water
- In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea
- A reference to the natural springs on the island
- The municipality of Hydra consists of the islands Hydra, Dokos and a few uninhabited islets
- The province of Hydra was one of the provinces of the Piraeus Prefecture
- Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality
- It was abolished in 2006
- There is one main town, known simply as “Hydra port”
- It consists of a crescent-shaped harbor, around which is centered a strand of restaurants, shops, markets, and galleries that cater to tourists and locals
- Steep stone streets lead up and outward from the harbor area
- Most of the local residences, as well as the hostelries on the island, are located on these streets
- Other small villages or hamlets on the island include Mandraki, Kamini, Vlychos, Palamidas, Episkopi, and Molos
- Hydra depends on tourism
- Athenians account for a sizable segment of its visitors
- High-speed hydrofoils and catamarans from Piraeus
- Some 37 nautical miles (69 km) away, serve Hydra, stopping first at Poros before going on to Spetses
- There is a passenger ferry service providing an alternative to Hydrofoils that runs from Hydra Harbor to Metochi on the Peloponnese coast
- Many Athenians drive to Metochi, leave their car in the secure car park, and take the 20-minute passenger ferry across to Hydra
- Rubbish trucks are the only motor vehicles on the island
- Since by law, cars and motorcycles are not allowed
- Horses, mules and donkeys, and water taxis provide public transportation
- The inhabited area, however, is so compact that most people walk everywhere
- Hydra benefits from numerous bays and natural harbors
- And has a strong maritime culture
- The island is a popular yachting destination
- And is the home of the Kamini Yacht Club, an international yacht club based in the port of Kamini
- In 2007, a National Geographic Traveler panel of 522 experts rated Hydra the highest of any Greek island
- As a unique destination preserving its “integrity of place”
- The Tsamadou mansion, on the left side as one enters the harbour, is now a Maritime Academy
- The Tsamados family donated the mansion for the purpose of hosting the Greek Maritime Academy on their island
- The Tombazis mansion is now part of the Athens School of Fine Arts
- It is owned by University of Athens
- The mansions of Lazaros and George Kountouriotis, Boudouris, Kriezis, Voulgaris, Sachinis, and Miaoulis all contain collections of 18th-century island furniture
- The descendants of Lazarus Kountouriotis donated his mansion to the Historic-Ethnologic Institute of Greece
- Today, it operates as an extension branch of the National Museum of History
- There are numerous churches and six Orthodox monasteries on the island
- Two particularly noteworthy monasteries are Profitis Ilias, founded in the 10th century, and Ayia Efpraxia
- Both are on a hill overlooking the main harbor
- The island’s cathedral is the old Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin and sits on the quayside in the town
- The monastery contains the tomb of Lazaros Kountouriotis
- The richest sea captain on Hydra
- Who gave his entire fortune to support the Greek War of Independence
- The dominant geographic features of Hydra are its rocky hillsides, which are bare, pine forested valleys with the occasional farmhouse
- The island was subject to a modern geologic study by Renz in 1955
- Some of the later Permian limestone strata are rich in well-preserved fossils
- There are many types of wildflowers
- Including rare ‘spentzes’ or cyclamen and poppies
- As well as pine trees, there are cypress and olive trees
- Birds species include partridges, quails, and many migratory birds, which are subject to local hunting
- Mammals include rabbits, feral cats, and goats
- Although the island’s name is derived from ancient springs known to the Ancient Greeks, it is now almost dry
- Hydra previously had wells, and three new wells have been found
- Today, the island imports its water by boat from the Greek mainland
- A new desalinization plant has been finished but is not in operation
- Many local people store winter rainfall in cisterns beneath their houses to use later as drinking water
- A savage fire during the intense heat of 2007 destroyed much of the pine forest to the east of Hydra port
- However, the fire left untouched some forest above Kamini and at the west end of Hydra
- The forest around Molos, Bisti, and Agios Nikolaous was also unaffected
- The island has almost no nighttime light pollution
- This is a boon to astronomy
- The Hydrama Theater and Arts Center hosts performances, drama and dance workshops for the local community
- And courses in ancient Greek theater for international participants
- The island hosts an annual conference on Rebetiko
- A type of Greek urban folk music, in mid-October
- In the 1950s and 1960s Hydra was the adopted home of a community of artists, expatriates from their own countries
- They included celebrated Norwegian novelist Axel Jensen, and Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen
- Cohen wrote several of his better-known songs on Hydra
- Including “Bird on the Wire” and “So Long, Marianne”
- While living with Jensen’s ex-wife, Marianne Ihlen
- In June 2009, the art collector Dakis Joannou opened a Hydra branch of a private art museum, the Deste Foundation, to show the work of established young artists
Got anything to add?