Hydra —— the artists
Hydra, one of the most cosmopolitan Greek islands, is located in the heart of the Argo Saronic Gulf. One of the main reasons why Hydra is a popular destination is it’s the perfect option for a quick getaway!
Hydra has always been the artists' muse of the Greek Islands. Leonard Cohen set the scene in the 60s; now Brice Marden, Sadie Coles and Juergen Teller have homes here. Athenian artists take up residence at the School of Fine Arts, one of the vast, grey, stone mansions overlooking the horseshoe harbour. Musicians of all stripes rehearse and record at the Old Carpet Factory, an 18th-century residence whose double-height ceilings and underground cistern have incredible acoustics.
Less than two hours from Athens, Hydra fills up with chic Greeks at weekends. They come to disconnect and slow down, but also to see and be seen.
Having been a filming location of “A girl in black” and “Boy on a dolphin” movies, Hydra stands out for its classy beauty! Elegant stone mansions, narrow alleys, churches, little shops, and a picturesque waterfront set the scene of an island fairytale!
Hydra has long attracted artists and art money. In cliff-side galleries in June and July, New Yorkers show short films on the subject of dislocation to an excess of global super-collectors, after which everybody troops off to a taverna and gets un-Americanly drunk. The island seems to absorb this fashionable display of chatter and ambition, and enjoy it enormously for a while, but is just as happy when everybody melts away back to Milan or Brooklyn.
On the cobbles, a line of donkeys waits patiently to carry suitcases up to the hotels and apartments. There are no land vehicles here, not even pushbikes. Banned for all time. Hydriots feel about the wheel the way the Amish do about Velcro: they know of its existence and have determined that with it comes the fall. How wise this has proved. No wheels have meant no heavy construction or gigantic hotels; the island can never be overcrowded or spoiled through overdevelopment, and has the atmosphere of a long-cherished and deeply quixotic place, a place far, far away, even though it is separated from the Peloponnese by just a narrow strip of water. There are no street names on Hydra either. You simply set off and see what lies around the next corner. Flora's café, perhaps, in a bright square full of lemon trees, with its pots of exquisite cold rice pudding spiced with cinnamon. Or a sweet supermarket where the freezer bursts hilariously with octopus tentacles and the honey comes in tins stacked in a quivering 10ft pyramid.
But no activity on Hydra compares to a trip out in a boat. The island is only 50 kilometres square and completely riveting when seen from the water, despite not being particularly lush or landscaped with the comely vines and olive trees of other Greek islands. Still, whichever way you turn, the impact is captivating.
One of the best things to do in Hydra is to visit its museums. The Byzantine Museum, the Historical Archive Museum, the Post-Byzantine Art and History Museum and the National Historical Museum are some of the best museums to visit!
Moving away from the main town, you’ll discover picturesque villages, such as Kaminia and Vlichos, where you will immerse yourself in the traditional side of Hydra. Don’t miss to sit at the traditional taverns and taste fresh fish and local delicacies!
If you like elegant destinations, you’ll fall in love with Hydra!
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