HYDRA

AMARYLLIS HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52249, 53611 Fax + 30 22980 53446
ANGELICA HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53202, 53264
ARIS HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53002 Fax + 30 22980 53811
BRATSERA HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53971
DELFINI HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52082, 54165
DINA HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52248
EFIE HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52371 52185 Fax + 30 22980 52371
GRECO HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53200 – 1
HIPPOCAMPUS Tel. + 30 22980 53453
HYDROUSSA HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52400, 53581-5 Fax + 30 22980 52161
KIRKI HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53181 Fax + 30 22980 52049
MIRANDA Tel. + 30 22980 52230, 53953 Fax + 30 22980 53510
MISTRAL HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52509, 53411
NEFELI HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53297
PHAEDRA HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 53330 Fax + 30 22980 53342
SOPHIA BOUTIQUE HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52313

MANDRAKI

MIRA MARE HOTEL Tel. + 30 22980 52300

ACHILLEAS PENSION Tel. + 30 22980 52050, 53227 Fax + 30 22980 53227
ALKYONIDES PENSION Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 54055
ANNA PENSION Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 53066
ARETI PENSION Tel. + 30 22980 53502
CORALLI Tel. + 30 22980 52997, 52237
ELECTRA Tel. + 30 22980 54103, 52995 Fax + 30 22980 54103
EROFILI PENSION Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 54049, 54098
FILENIA Tel. + 30 22980 52537 Fax + 30 22980 53084
KALLIOPI TRADITIONAL GUEST HOUSE Tel. + 30 22980 53083, 52613
MELITI APARTMENTS Tel. + 30 22980 52206
NEREIDES Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 52875
PITIOUSSA Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 52810
PORTA DEL MARE GUEST HOUSE Tel. + 30 22980 54105 Fax + 30 22980 29659
SAVVAS Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 52259
STONE HOUSE Tel. + 30 22980 52230, 53510 Fax + 30 22980 53510
THEANO Tel. + 30 22980 53157, 53679
VERANDA GUEST HOUSE Tel. + 30 22980 52259

KAMINIA

ZOE APARTMENTS Tel. & Fax + 30 22980 52114

MANDRAKI

VILLA MANDRAKI Tel. + 30 22980 53072

COASTALLY: By ferry boat or hydrofoil from Piraeus port. Distance: 38 nautical miles. The trip lasts 1.30 – 3.30 hours.
Hydra is connected with Aegina, Methana, Poros, Spetses, Porto Heli and Ermioni.

All movement about the island is by small boats with regular services to Mandraki, Kaminia and Vlichos wheeled vehicles are forbidden. Animals also are used for some journeys.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
Port Authority of Hydra + 30 22980 52279
Port Authority of Piraeus + 30 210 4226000, 2104593104
Post Office of Hydra + 30 22980 52262, 53398
Hospital of Hydra + 30 22980 53150
Ecclesiastical Museum of Hydra + 30 22980 54071
L. Kountouriotis Museum + 30 22980 52421
P. Kountouriotis Museum + 30 22980 52245

Hydra is one of the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands and has very high quality accommodation, luxury shops, restaurants, places of entertainment, facilities for water sports and a lively night life.

In ancient times the island was called Hydrea and was a subject first of Mycenae and then of Hermione. It flourished greatly during the Byzantine period, but the most glorious pages in its history are those relating to modern times.

During the period of Turkish domination, the people of Hydra were granted a system self-government and exemption from taxes. From the 17th to the 18th c., they succeeded in creating a strong merchant fleet and monopolized trade in the Mediterranean during the Napoleonic Wars. This brought them great wealth and they were able to increase their naval power several fold.

At the beginning of the Greek War of independence of 1821 the sea-captains of Hydra made their ships available for the Greek War of Independence, in which many of them gave their lives. Important was the help of Hydra to the liberation of Greece in 1821. During the war Hydra had got 130 battleships of 30.000 ton each, 5.400 soldiers and 2.400 cannons.

Today, Hydra retains its naval tradition and the memories of its glorious past.

HYDRA town is in the middle of west coast, facing Ermioni. It is the capital and the port of the island.
Right and left from the entrance of the port, there are the Parapets with the Canons, which protected the town.
The port of Hydra is filled with little and big yachts, boats and cruisers.To the left side of the port is located the statue of Andreas Miaoulis.
As the boat enters the beautiful harbor, visitors are impressed by the austere sea-captain’s houses with their stone walls, characteristic windows and tiled roofs. Most of them have two or three storeys and are spread around the two grey hills of the town, blending in completely with the severe setting. The whole of the quayside is surrounded by a series of imposing houses, and ground-floors of which are given over to commercial establishments-restaurant, bars, a jeweller’s…
Most of the mansions have been restored and retain their grandeur, along with their furniture and the interior decoration of the period at which they were built by skilled Genoese architects.
The Tsamados Mansion is the home of the Merchant Navy Training School, that of Tombazis houses a branch of the School of Fine Arts, and that of Kriezis is now the Old People’s Home.
The museum, next to Harbor Authority, contains among other things, an extensive collection of documents and letters from the Greek War of Independence of 1821 and the cannon in the old harbor bring back memories of the naval warfare engaged in by the people of the island. One of many churches and monasteries on the island, the following are worth particular mention: the Cathedral – dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin built in 1765, which has several fine icons, amongst them a gilded icon of the martyr.
Konstantinos of Hydra, one of the Presentation of Christ in the temple, one of St. John Nisteftis and some wall-paintings in the folk idiom.
The twin monasteries of Agia Efpraxia and Profitis Elias, built about 1800 on the highest hill of Hydra, are also worth visiting.
The monastery of Agia Triada is near Mandraki and that of Zouvra, dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin, is at the northernmost point of the island, with the monastery of Agia Matrona just to the south of it.
In Hydra you will enjoy romantic walks in the narrows, paved alleys. Along the waterfront and on some side streets branching off from it, you will find art galleries, jewelry and souvenir shops. Most of the waterfront is devoted to cafes, bars and restaurants.

MANDRAKI is to the north of Hydra Town, while to the south lie Vlichos, Molos and Episkopi, which was the capital of the island in Byzantine times.

BEACHES
Outside the main port of the island you will find the beautiful rocky beach of Spilia with deep crystal blue waters. Beside Spilia there is the magnificent beach Hydroneta.
For swimming, visitors can take a small boat to MANDRAKI a fully organized beach with water sports, KAMINIA, VLICHOS, BISTI the southest cove of the island with a fine organized beach, LIMNIONIZA and AGIOS NIKOLAOS a fully organized pebbly beach with crystal clear waters, ideal for underwater fishing. To the east you will find the pebbled beach of Nisiza and Klimaki a large beach with cottages. Near all the beaches there are taverns where you can taste fresh fish and local delicious recipes.

TRADITION – EVENTS
Very famous in Hydra is the annual Carnival where visitors and local people can take part and enjoy.
Easter is celebrated in a distinctive fashion in Hydra. On Good Friday, the procession of the Epitafios at Kaminia continues into the sea.
In June, as part of Nautical Week, is celebrated the festival of the Miaoulia, which includes boat-races, swimming races, dancing and a reconstruction of the Turkish flagship.