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Hydra covers an area
of 56 square Kilometers and a population of 2,373. It lies
37 nautical miles away from Piraeus. Hydra is an ideal place
for high quality vacation. The old ship cannons in the central
square still guard over the historic port and town. The area
was inhabited since the Mycenean times, as shown by the few
potsherds that were found in the surrounding hills.
Narrow rising roads and steps lead to Kiafa, the island's
first organized settlement. Since 1700, trade in the Mediterranean
was no longer limited to commercial transactions, but expanded
to include cultural exchanges too.
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An
impressive pair of buildings from that era is
the harbor master's office and the cluster of
houses that accommodates foreign teachers. In
the same neighborhood you can also see newly
- built villas and houses with brightly - painted
facades.
Another sight to see, in the center of the town,
is the Rafalia's Pharmacy, which was established
in 1890 and has kept the inner appearance of
an old pharmacy. In the area of Kala Pigadia,
at the foot of Kiafa hill, stands the mansion
of the Gorogiannis family, which has a traditional
Macedonian - style sitting room.
The Metropolis, dedicated to the Assumption
of the Virgin, was built in 1648 and served
as a catholic monastery until 1832. On the main
road to Kamini, you should visit the old people's
home and the Kriezi's mansion.
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West of
the harbor stand the simple but architecturally impressive
two and tree-storey mansions of the Captains. At the foot
of Mili hill and in the area of the west fortress of the
harbor there is a level land of pine-trees and canons
from where you can have a wonderful view of Dokos and
of the Peloponnesian coast.
Hydra offers to the visitors the opportunity to experience
the island's old way of life in a modern environment.
As an art center, Hydra holds various events, concerts,
exhibitions and lectures of all kinds, every year. Excursions
are organized from the harbor to places around the island
like Porto Heli, Kosta and the ancient theatre of Epidaurus.
By boat or on foot, you can reach Mandraki, where a restored
18th century shipyard is a part of a luxury hotel.
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