Useful Telephone Numbers. If you are one of the many yachtsmen who come to Hydra for the first time and happen to find the main harbour full, you may anchor Mandraki, Bay-east to the main port where there used to be the old ship-yard of Hydra. Kamini, west of the main port, a small fishermen's bay. Molos, west of the main port. An ample natural bay. From there you can use your tender boats to come to the main port and town of Hydra. Hydra is famous for its fish and sea-fruits, because it is rocky with deep, clear water and surrounded by small islands: Lobsters, shrimps, squid, octopus, cod and red mullet are the usual catch. On the island there is a variety of 'taverns' and restaurants, snack bars, and fast food places. There are two bakeries, two croissanteries, many cafeterias and two pastry shops with varieties of ice creams, sweets, coffees and refreshments. And of course, the specialty of the island, the 'almond sweets' or 'amygdalate'. But the fish taverns are the most popular with their traditional Greek 'cuisine' and specialties. For example: Three Greek traditional dishes: Shrimp with special rice. Stuffed squid with spinach. Lamb a la kapama. Hydra provides beautiful places for fishing, diving as well as other water sports like windsurfing and water skiing in some areas. Also, walking and climbing is very popular. The roads along the harbor as well as the picturesque streets that lead to it offer a great variety of pubs, bars, discos, restaurants and cafeterias to please every taste and mood. FESTIVAL OF ANCIENT TRAGEDY AND COMEDY: During the summer, July and August, there are also weekend trips to Epidavros, where you can watch a live performance in the ancient theatre. For information concerning the above excursions contact the Saitis Tours office in the main harbor of Hydra tel. +30 22980 52184. There are frequent exhibitions throughout the tourist season, by well- Know international artists who live on the island. Hydra has the best shops and workshops for jewellery, ceramics, carpets, decorative items, clothes, embroideries, local souvenirs, in reason amble prices. The official tourist period in Hydra begins and ends with two Greek National Holidays: the 25th of March when the War of Independence, against the Turks, Began in 1821. And 28th of October when Mussolini, the Italian dictator, asked Greece in October Of 1940 to surrender without war and the Greeks answered 'NO'. They are both Celebrated with two well-known sailing races from Piraeus to Hydra. Hydra has unlimited tourist period because: Its climate in mild during the winter (From 16 c to 18 c). It is too close to Athens, Piraeus and the airports that every one can reach it in An hour or two and spend a weekend or some days of vacation in absolute calm, Listening only the song of birds, the drifting of the waves of the sea and the splash Of the oars.

The hotel is an old Villa, which has been transformed into a hotel with the following facilities. 3 Superior VIP double rooms, 3 Standard VIP rooms, 5 normal doubles rooms,2 normal triple rooms and 1 normal single room. All the VIP rooms have private bathtub or shower jacuzzi, A/C Heating, Satelite T.V., Safe, Telephone, Mini Fridge, Hair Dryer, Complete set of Kore Cosmetics in the bathroom, Daily service of cleannes. All the normal rooms have their own bathroom with a shower,air-conditioning, Safe, T.V, hairdryer, and telephone. Most of the normal rooms lead into a balcony or terrace.

With special attention to detail the 14 particularly tasteful rooms retain a delightful note of Old-Fashioned charm and luxury. Old and modern style are harmoniously tied up with one another in order to make your stay comfortable. What is there available? The superior VIP rooms have veranda or balcony. All the rooms have private bathtub or shower jacuzzi, A/C Heating, Satelite T.V., Safe, Telephone, Mini Fridge, Hair Dryer, Complete set of Kore Cosmetics in the bathroom, Daily service of cleannes. Also, all the V.I.P. Rooms can use the mini pool and the personal sauna in the garden, of the V.I.P. Building.

The island of Hydra, in the Argosaronic gulf, close to the Eastern coast of Peloponnesian is one hour away -35 miles- by Hydrofoil from Piraeus. It is one of the only places in the world where no cars, motorcycles or even bicycles are allowed. Transport- for people and goods- are the backs of donkeys and mules. The island's area is 48 kilometres and 3000 people inhabit it. The name of Hydra comes from the word 'hydro' which means 'water' in the Greek language. In ancient time Hydra was an island inhabited by Dryopian shepherds of which civilization still exist some ruins in Episcope, on the west side of the island. It was an island with plenty offspring for drinking water covered by forests and thick grass that fed a lot of sheep and goats. They say, that about 1500 BC Agamemnon, the King of Mycenae, Menelaos, the King of Sparta, and who knows, maybe Pares, the prince of Troy, who kidnapped the beautiful Helen of Sparta, (and thus began the Trojan War), stopped their ships in Hydra and bought water supplies needed for their short or long trips. Every famous place in ancient Greece had its own legend. In this case the legend says that a huge serpent, which appeared and caused them catastrophe by his enormous appetite, upset the peaceful life of Hydra's shepherds. Every day, he gulped tremendous quantities of sheep and goats alive. The shepherds reaction was, of course, to find and kill the 'dragon'.The 'dragon' lived in a deep cave. Someone had the bright idea of making a fire at the entrance of the cave and killing it by suffocation. So they did, but, unfortunately, the result was dramatic. The forest of Hydra, the thick grass, the sheep and goats, all turned into ashes. Gradually, the soil of the island became rigid and barren. The shepherds left in search of a greener island. Around the 15th century AD, Hydra started to be inhabited by refugees, from the Peloponnese, seeking shelter from Turkish persecution. The barren soil of the island turned them first from farmers to fishermen and then to excellent sailors. As a matter of fact, by 1800 A.D. navigation had flourished to the point where Hydra had so many wealthy ship owners that it was characterized as a 'little England'. In that time Hydra had 25000 inhabitants and 125 big merchant ships equipped with large cannons and well trained crews for fear of pirates. Italian and other foreign architects constructed many mansions. Each mansion had its own private church and its own private priest. Now, in the island there exist about 370 churches. The big houses, constructed by stone, were furnished with antiques and decorated with chandeliers objects d' art precious carpets, silverware, and frescos in ceilings and walls painted by well known painters of that time. They say, that the wealthy ship owners built in the basement of their houses two cisterns: A big one for water and one smaller in which they keep their gold. In 1821 began the War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire that is the Turks, who had occupied Greece since 1453. That was the date on which the Turks conquered Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Hydra contributed to the War of Independence in a very important way. With its ships-, which constituted two thirds of total Greek fleet, it's trained crews and the wealth of its ship owners. Many distinguished persons were born in Hydra. Five prime ministers, members of Parliament, members of the Greek academy, admirals, artists, poets, including the archbishop Dorotheo Kotara and the first president of the Greek Republic, admiral Paulo Kountouriotis, in 1925. Hydra was the first tourist island of Greece. It was become well known since 1956, when John Negoulesko filmed the famous movie, 'The boy on the dolphin' with Sophia Loren and Alan Ladd. In 1960 Michaels Cacoyiannis made in Hydra the movie 'Phedra' with Anthony Perkins, Ralf Val one and Melina Merkouri. The unique light, the crystal clear blue waters, the ideal combination of nature and architecture, made Hydra popular with cinema directors, photographers, artists, movie stars, and members of the jet set: Brigitte Bar dot, Bob Jacouri, Audrey Heyburn, Anthony Quinn, Ego von Fustenberg, Joan Collins, Aries Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie Kennedy-Onassi, the fashion designer Valentino, are some of the lovers of Hydra, not to mention Leonard Cohen, who has a house in Hydra and lived, permanently on the island, for many years.

Round of the island: To go round the island s a worthwhile trip with a kaiki (small boat). It leaves the port in the morning, visits the coast of Peloponnese and other sides of the island, allows plenty of time to swimming in a small bays and picnicking by the shore and returns the main port the evening. Another suggested trip, that you can make on your own aside from hiking is to Episkopi, at the west side of the island where traces of the first inhabitants of Hydra date from the 10th century B.C. Archaeological area: If someone wants to visit the interesting archeological area of the eastern Peloponnese, for example, the ancient theatre of Epidavros, the palace of King Agamemnon in Mycenae, or the pleasant town of Nafplion with its two medieval castles, he must either go to Ermioni or Galata, (the Peloponnese town opposite the island of Poros). By taxi or rented car he will spent an unforgettable day with a thousand spots for marvellous photos.

Hydra is famous for its traditional picturesque, where the visitor can enjoy 200-old stone mansion still standing strong. So strong, as a matter of fact, that some are still in use by the elite population of Hydra and therefore not available for public viewing of their interiors. Others are used as public service bureau. The Tompazis mansion had been a School of Arts and is now a guesthouse exclusively for art students. The Sahtouris mansion now shelters the National Merchant Marine Academy in Greece. The Kountouriotis mansion has been acquired recently by the Greek ministry of civilization and is currently being renovated. Other famous mansions are the Boudouris, the Voulgaris and the Rafalias. CHURCHES-MONASTERIES. The nearest church, right in the centre of the harbour, is the Metropolis of Hydra. Assumption of the Virgin Mary distinguished by its tall prominent clock tower, with the church's bells that announce religious events. There are also other churches with beautiful domes supported by marble arches, like Agios Ioannis and Ipapanti. The newest church on the island is Agios Konstantinos of Hydra, which is built upon the Sains old family house. This is an elaborate church with wooden sculptures and a gold plated temple. Among the multitude of churches on the island there are also a number of monasteries and convents like the monastery of Prophet Elias and the convent of Agia Efpraxia, both lying on mount Eros-500 metres high. You can make your visit here either by a lovely one and half hour hike, or a memorable donkey ride. Other monasteries are Agias Trias (Holy Trinity), and Agios Nikolaos and convents are Agia Matrona and the convent of Zourva, in the very east of the island. The historical museum of Hydra is housed in a traditional style building recently erected on the same spot were the old one used to stand.