Overview of Spetses
Cosmopolitan, historic and elegant Spetses lies at the southeast of the Argosaronic Gulf. It was named by the Venetians “isola di spezzie”, aka the “island of scents”. Its history, however, is much more exciting than that. Spetses is one of the Greek islands that played a major role to the Greek Revolution of 1821. Moreover, Spetses was the birthplace of famous heroine Laskarina Bouboulina, whose former house is now a private museum and statue stands proudly at the port.
Spetses also prospered as a shipbuilding and naval trade center. Canons, neoclassical buildings, old houses and captain mansions remind the glorious past, together with the numerous romantic horse carriages of the island. Cars are not allowed in Spetses, therefore transportation is carried out by buses, bicycles, scooters and mopeds. The most developed part of the island is its town, Dapia, with the port, the Hotel Posidonion –an architectural gem at the waterfront-, the cobbled streets and the busy square Platia Rologiou, among others.
Meanwhile, the nearby Old Harbor (combining yachts, restaurants and nightlife) and the village Kounoupitsa (a colorful place of another era) are the main, picturesque island attractions. Spetses is covered in pines that reach up to its lovely seashores. Accommodation amenities are more than satisfactory and the island’s gastronomy is superb. It is considered to be a rather expensive island, but generally it corresponds to the “value for money” criteria. Spetses is a very popular destination for many types of visitors – and a favorite “escape” for Athenians, as it’s merely two hours by boat from Piraeus. Its special character, derived by the irresistible blend of present and past, makes Spetses simply unforgettable.
Find more information on Spetses at the official website for Greek Tourism VisitGreece.gr
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