Greece Tours Guide explore greece, all the times

GREEK CITIES AND GREEK ISLANDS
ABOUT HYDRA

The small island of Hydra is found in the Saronic Gulf, 61km southwest of Piraeus (Athens' main port) and 7km from the Peloponnesus. The inhabited islands of Spetses, Poros, and Aegina are nearby, and can be seen in a daytrip, as can some of the towns of the Peloponnesus. Small, uninhabited islets lie within view off the coast and to the south. Visitors can reach Hydra by sea (90 minutes by hydrofoil). During the high season (June to September), temperatures range from the mid 20s C (80s F) to the mid-to-high 30s C (90s F) in July and August.

Hydra cradles a bustling harbor packed with shops, restaurants, and quayside cafes perfect for sipping a leisurely cappuccino and people-watching. Tiny cobblestone lanes and winding limestone staircases crisscross the island's villages - there are no cars or scooters! With the exception of a few micro utility vehicles, donkeys and carts provide the island's only land transportation.

Long known as a haven for a rich blend of jet-setters, artists, and writers, Hydra also preserves a traditional, quaint way of life that has become increasingly hard to find in Greece's more heavily-touristed islands. The entire island has been preserved as a national monument and great reverence is paid to Hydra's role in the Greek War of Independence. Among other things, the island contributed one of the largest fleets to fighting the Turks at sea and spawned several national heros. Today, history buffs can explore sights and exhibits around town that illustrate the island's rich past, and several festivals commemorate its heros.

Hydra itself measures 6km across at its widest point, and is 23km long. Much of the island is rocky and mountainous, making for dramatic coastal scenery as the crags drop to the sea. Olive, almond, and pine trees flourish here, despite dry summers, though some of Hydra's pine forests were destroyed in the wildfires of 2008. Spring brings a surprising array of bright wildflowers, carpeting hills in bright yellows, soft purples, and sprinkles of ruby red.

Cobbled roads and walking trails along the coast connect the settlement of Mandraki in the north, to the main Hydra town, the villages of Kamini and Vlychos, and the boatyard and community of Palamida to the south. The trail turns inland at Palamida and winds through olive groves and pine forests to reach the tiny outposts of Molos and Episkopi. Generally, people ride in taxi boats to reach other parts of the island, like the southern Bisti Bay.

Be prepared to walk and wander, whether through the historic architecture of Hydra town, the sleepy fishing village of Kamini, or along the gorgeous craggy coastline trails. Or, for the lover of nightlife, party into the wee hours, sleep late, and swim off the rocks in the cerulean sea.

Hydra is an area of 52 sq. km. and is 6 nautical miles far from the NE coast of Argolida . It is a rocky mountain chain, 20 km length, and width from 1,5 km to 6 km . The island is thin and anhydrous, with highest crown the Ere ( 592 m .). It is 35 nautical miles far from Piraeus. The municipality of Hydra has approximately 2,800 residents.

The climate is mild with a cool summer and a soft winter. North winds mostly take off the sea fog and create a brilliant and clear horizon

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.

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.

The town itself represents a big sample of our traditional inheritance. Simple houses or country seats, differentiate from a quaint architecture which is not met in other Greek regions.

Orthogonal parallelepiped with ceramic roof, flint cornice, high-ceiling with arches, with embossed interior decoration, and painted wooden ceilings. We will also see cisterns, and marble sources. In the old days, Hydraian furniture had a good fame which also gave glory to noble houses.

It will be worth it for anyone to visit the mansions of the island, look far away the port from the hill, admire the sunset from the "lodge" and the cave and visit the 6 monasteries and the 300 churches. Especially the twin monasteries of Saint Efpraksia and of the prophet Elias, the monastery of the assumption and the churches of Ypapanti and Saint John the faster. Last but not least the Historical File-Museum, which operates daily and shows important museum jewels and archival items.

On Hydra Island you will enjoy romantic walk in the narrows, graphical, paved alleys. Generally, Hydra is famous for the calm life is offers to the visitors in the day, but also for the intense, cosmopolitan life, in the night. Bar, pub, disco, with foreign-Greek music and reverly till the morning.

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. From 1967, Metropolite is the Venerable Ierotheos Tsantilis.