Ídhra

Hydra is an island and municipality in the Saronic group of the Aegean Sea, located in central Greece, just off the Peloponnese peninsula. Once lush, it is now largely denuded with little arable land, relying on collected rainwater and water shipped from the mainland.1

Emerging as a significant seafaring center in the 15th century under Turkish rule, Hydra's maritime trade flourished further in the 17th century with an influx of Albanian refugees. During the War of Greek Independence in 1821, its substantial merchant fleet and fortunes were dedicated to the insurgents, with Hydriote captains playing a role in naval encounters against the Turkish fleet.1

The island's maritime importance declined with the advent of steamships. Today, its industries include sponge fishing, cotton weaving, shipbuilding, and tourism. Hydra town, the main settlement, is known as a colony for artists and writers.1