Spetses have been attracting aristocrats from all over the world for many centuries. It is a perfect small and quiet land for holidays. You can visit Palio Limani and admire the 19th-century mansions of the wealthiest family of Spetses and Greece. Most of their owners were engaged in sea trade, so all of the buildings are located close to the sea.
The most prestigious accommodation place on the island is grand hotel Poseidonion. That’s one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the capital. Impeccable appearance of the …
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There is Agios Mamas Church on the square in the Old Harbour. It seems strange that the cult building is not connected with the sea but it is situated in the centre of the biggest port of the island. The legend says that a ship with the goods for winemaking wrecked near the island and the captain began to pray in order to save his crew. People say that Mamas came to him during the prayer. Whether it is true or not, the captain built a church on the shore and witnesses said that he used wine for building mortar.
The Church of Agios Nikolaos is also located here. It was built in 1700 and almost hasn’t been destroyed. The flag of the Greek War of Independence was sewed at the church. Moreover, the dead body of the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte who came to Greece to fight on the side of Greeks was kept in the church for three years. The square before the entrance of the church is tiled with beautiful mosaics, which is as ancient as the walls of the building. There is also a monument to the unknown sailor and a shipyard, where more than 600 ships were built in the 19th century. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
You can bring a craft in the form of the ship from Spetses. Locals are very proud of the victory in the battle of 1822, so all the types of naval souvenirs are popular here. You can also pay …
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The troops of the rebels gave the fight to the Turkish squadron near the shores of Spetses in 1822. The battery located at Palio Limani played an important role in the battle. Guns are still in their places as they were 2 centuries ago. Not far from the battery you can find a chapel with frescos, illustrating the battle. There is also a bust of the Count Alexei Grigoryevich Orlov, who came to help the rebellions. Moreover, you can visit a harbour and a lighthouse, which was built in 1831 and now it is opened for visitors.
One of the main local attractions is the Museum of Laskarina Bouboulina, who was the first allegedly woman-admiral of the Imperial Russian Navy. Laskarina created a small fleet with her own money and took it under her command during the war with Turks. It is known that after the Turko-Russian War Alexander II invited her to Saint-Petersburg and gave her the title of Admiral and richly decorated scimitar. The museum is located in a beautiful mansion built in the 17th century. The collection of the museum includes coins, weapons, books and personal effects of Laskarina. The interior of some rooms hasn’t changed from the 19th century.
Hundreds of years ago, the picturesque island of Spetses began to attract noblemen who built luxury villas on the coast. Today, this aristocratic Greek island is accessible for everybody. …
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Be sure to visit Hatzigianni Mexi Mansion ( Spetses Museum), who was the supporter of independent Greece and a historian. The museum is located in the 200 years old building. It is a kind of an archaeological museum, where you can see unique items found during excavations on the island. The museum hosts items that represent more than 4000 years of Spetses history. Some of them are ceramics of the first Hellenic period, sculptures of the Roman period, a collection of post-Byzantine and Russian icons and items from the revolution of 1821. The most important part of the exhibition is dedicated to the revolution.
Spetses Island - guide chapters
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