We sail to the dreamy Hydra, the historic Spetses and the heroic Psara, which “supplied” the sea battles of the Greeks in the Greek Revolution of 1821.

Hydra

The island of the captains with the largest fleet during the Revolution, it is also an escape from the bustle of everyday life. In the harbor dominates the statue of the brave admiral, Andreas Miaoulis, at the base of which his bones are kept, while nearby, in the Historical Archive – Museum of Hydra, there is the liekythos with his heart. Everywhere monuments that testify to the glorious history of Hydra: the bastions with the cannons, the old stone-built powder magazine, which now houses the port authority and Madraki, where the old war harbour is located. Imposing mansions and houses with vivid colours, doorways with sophisticated designs give a special island style. Since cars are forbidden in Hydra, it is a great opportunity to explore the island by walking, by carriage or by water taxi. And if we happen to be on the island at the end of June, we will experience an amazing spectacle: the re-enactment of a ship being set on fire by a storm, as it happened back then, in the days of Miaoulis, Tomazis and Tsamados.

Spetses

A stone’s throw from Hydra is the island of Spetses, historic and cosmopolitan. The island of Laskarina Bouboulinas, who gave ships and money for the Struggle and together with Manto Mavrogenous were praised as “Lionhearted women, beautiful, dynamic and beautiful, brave and always heroic captains”. Her former mansion, 300 years old, houses her museum with a collection of personal objects and heirlooms from the Revolutionary period. In Dapia, the centre of the city of Spetses, with the famous cannon house and the Chancellery, the meeting place of the precursors of the Revolution, is her statue. However, we will have to wait until September to experience its greatest celebration, the “Armata”, which depicts the battle of Spetses, victorious for the Greeks.

Fisherman

We set sail for the heroic island, opposite Chios, which, although small in size, was a naval power during the years of the Struggle. The birthplace and “base” of Konstantinos Kanaris, perhaps the most famous bullfighter, who later served free Greece as minister and prime minister. The destruction of the island by the Turks in 1824, about which Dionysios Solomos wrote: “Glory alone walks on the all-black ridge of Psara”, left behind ruins, some of which are still preserved today on Kavos. We will enjoy the peace and quiet that this little paradise exudes, talk to hospitable people, swim in crystal clear waters and taste local lobsters.