Tour the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum on Hydra Island
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The small Greek island of Hydra will transport you to a different time. The island has no vehicles, so it is able to maintain its traditional charm. Visiting Hydra Island offers a variety of things to see and do. Touring the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum is something you should add to your list when visiting Hydra Island.
Also known as Lazaros Koundouriotis Historical Mansion, the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum on Hydra Island is located on the west side of the port of Hydra. The mansion was built in 1780 and owned by the Koundouriotis family.
About the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum
In 1979, the mansion was handed over to the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece having been donated by Pandelis Koundouriotis. The mansion has served as a museum and annex of the National Historical Museum since 2001.
Lazaros Koundouriotis was a shipowner who played an important role during the War of Independence. He provided a lot of money to finance the Greek fleet. It is estimated that he contributed about one tenth of Spetses, Hydra, and Psara combined. George Koundouriotis was the president of the Provisional Government during the last years of the War of Independence. George’s grandson. Pavlos Koundouriotis was an admiral and a commander during the 1912 Greek-Turkish War.
The mansion that now serves as the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum is a wonderful example of 18th century Hydriot mansions. The architecture of the building reflects the influences that came from abroad and maintains much of the functions of a home. The building also features ceiling borders that were hand-painted, black and white marble tile floors, and moldings.
Tour the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum
The first thing you will notice about the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum is that it faces the harbor. This makes for a wonderful view before entering the museum. Before stepping into the museum, take time to also admire the outside of the mansion and its beautiful architecture and style.
The Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum showcases exhibits that include furniture, portraits, 17th century costumes, jewelry, paintings, mirrors, and ceramics. There is also an exhibit of heirlooms that belonged to the Koundouriotis family and historical collections from the National Museum of History. Paintings on exhibit include those by Greek artists Konstantinos and Periklis Byzantios.
Getting to the Lazaros Koundouriotis Museum on Hydra Island
There is no airport on the island of Hydra, but you can fly into Athens and from there take a ferry to Hydra Island from the Piraeus port. This ferry departs multiple times a day. You can also take a ferry to Hydra from the eastern side of the Peloponnese as well as Poros and Spetses. Getting around on Hydra is done by foot or by donkey as there are no vehicles on the island.
As you tour the museum, on the first floor you will experience the residence as it was experienced by the last resident of the mansion, Pandelis Koundouriotis. You will be able to view traditional Greek folk art and paintings of the landscapes of Hydra.
Categorized in: About Hydra, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
