Located between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf in Aegean Sea, Hydra is one of the most popular day-trip destinations from Athens. There is one main town, known simply as "Hydra port", which has a scenic location in a deep harbor, with whitewashed houses rising on the hills on both sides from an azure blue sea. Other small villages on the island include Vlychos, Kamini, Mandraki, Episkopi and Palamidas.
The name “Hydra” has nothing to do with the nine-headed monster. Incindentally, it’s just an abbreviation of the word “spring” used from ancient times. According to the archaeological traces during the Helladic period, Hydra probably served as a maritime base for the kingdoms on the Greek peninsula.
The modern town is a paradise-like place, protected by a special preservation order. Some old Hydriote mansions have been restored as museums illustrating the traditional life of Hydra's splendid past. The mansions of the sea captains that ring the harbor in the 19th Century are a valuable testament.
The whole island is closed to any kind of motorised vehicles and doesn’t have any roads, except from donkey paths. Hydra doesn't have much in the way of sandy beaches. Most of the beaches on Hydra Greece are mostly places with flat rocks or pebbled bays with deep, clean waters.
The most famous cultural attractions are churches and monasteries of orthodox believers. Profitis Ilias monastery dates from 10th Century and it stand today on a hill overlooking the main harbour.
The island's Cathedral is the old Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin (Kimisis Tis Theotokou). It contains the tomb of the richest sea captain on Hydra, who gave his entire fortune to support the Greek War of Independence. The interior is gorgeous, with hundreds of gold and silver icons and other elaborate Orthodox decoration.
Photo source
I. C.
