Spetses, Walking Tour

Pickup at the port by our guide holding the Shore2Shore sign.

Spetses was inhabited around 2500 BC, according to findings discovered in Agia Marina. In the 17th century, it began to develop and become a great naval power, standing out in 1821 by fighting against the Turkish fleet and contributing to the final victory. It is a very green island, small in size, but with good tourist facilities. Dapia, the island’s capital, has an impressive square next to the port, paved with white and black pebbles leading to the sea, giving its name to the entire port area. Visits to the Cathedral of Agios Nicolaos and the churches of Agii Pantes and Panagia should not be missed. The city museum is located in the Mexis Mansion, from the 18th century. The Paleo Limani port is fascinating, home to yachts, fishermen, and canoe builders.

Spetses is a perfect island to enjoy a wonderful stroll, where you can admire its elegant manor architecture, its cobblestone streets full of jasmine and bougainvillea gardens that make discovering the island on foot a pleasure. Starting from the main port of Dapia, where the historic building of the Poseidonion Grand Hotel is located. Built for the first time in 1914 by Sotirios Anargyros, styled after the Hotel Negresco in Venice and the Carlton in Cannes. It was completely renovated in 2009, carefully preserving every detail of the building’s architectural structure, and since then it has won an impressive variety of international awards. A couple of minutes from the hotel is the house of Sotirios Anargyros, built in 1904. This mansion is guarded by two Egyptian sphinxes, giving it an exotic touch uncommon on a Greek island. Anargyros, a true institution on the island, was a maritime merchant who emigrated to the United States and became one of the largest tobacco traders of the time. He returned to his homeland in Spetses and made it his life’s mission to develop the island by financing several large and pioneering projects, including the island’s first reservoir, the luxurious hotel, and the replanting of the great Spetses forest, which, although it shares the island’s name—Spetses means "Island of Pines" in Greek—had been depleted due to the need for shipbuilding in previous centuries. Understanding the importance of education for the island’s development, together with the Greek prime minister of the time, he founded an elite educational institution in the 1920s, emulating the famous British schools Eton and Harrow, which would educate the leaders of the new Greek society and many other distinguished figures.

Neoclassical mansions also have their place on the island, with notable sites such as Chatziyannis Mexis, an excellent 18th-century example that currently houses the museum, with more than 4,000 years of history within its walls. Among the objects, we can find the Revolution Flag, the Bouboulina Ossuary, and portraits of men who fought for their homeland, Spetses. Lascarina Bouboulina is one of the few heroines of the Greek Revolution and, in particular, one of the most famous women in Greek history. The building itself is noteworthy for its architectural details, especially the intricate carved wooden ceiling in the main hall, and it houses numerous archaeological objects including ceramic pieces, sculptures, coins, and Byzantine and post-Byzantine icons; portraits, weapons, historical documents, photographs, and personal items. Another section of the museum focuses on objects related to the island’s folklore, handcrafted artworks, costumes, embroidery, and everyday use items.

Return to the port for farewell.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• DURATION: GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR UP TO 3 HOURS
• NO SUPPLEMENTS.

NOTES

• Easy Level/Panoramic/Cultural
• It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes and a hat or umbrella depending on the weather that day.
• Walking tour.
• This tour is not recommended for people with reduced mobility, those who require the use of a wheelchair, or those traveling with baby strollers, due to uneven terrain.