Traditional architecture towns in Greece #4: Spetses

GrigorisSokratis · October 14th, 2007, 04:08 AM

Let's continue our trip, and this time we are heading to the town of Spetses in Spetses island. Located 190 kms SW from Athens you can reach the place either by car (you must cross by ferry the 2kms stretch once you arrived to Porto Heli in Argolida, Peloponnese; it's just a 10 minutes ride from there) or Hydrofoil from Athens; Plaka (near Leonidio, Arkadia) and Nafplion on the Peloponnese.

Its population is around 4,500 and its history goes back to the 3rd millenium BC.

In ancient times, it was known as Pityoussa and later as Petses. The town is the only settlement on the island and was one of the two only provinces in Greece that has fewer than five settlements and two municipalities. It is presently an independent municipality, with no local boundaries within the municipality.

The use of motor vehicles is severely restricted on the island, so the public transportation system is generally provided by horse & carriage and water taxis. Some conventional taxis and buses are in operation, but they require a special license.

Architecture

Spetses is famous for its beautiful traditional architecture consisting in a mixture of 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th century architectural style, testifying about the cultural and economical development and wealth of the island during those years, when it was, along with the island of Hydra, one of the greatest marine and industrial powers of Greece.

Almost all the traditional houses have a courtyard decorated with pebble mosaics, inlaid with local motifs; those decorative beauties can be seen, if someone is lucky, when the garden’s gates of the houses are opened.
Another characteristic of the traditional Spetsiote architecture is the flat, unadorned façade of the buildings.

Beautiful Venetian mansions with tiled roofs, wooden balconies and bright coloured walls are standing next to superb neoclassical residences and 19th century two-storey houses with tiled roofs on which stone sculptures are standing, decorating it; those houses are usually painted in ochre or crème and have many large coloured windows.

These buildings have an arched ground floor patio supporting the balcony of the second story.
Fine marble squares are scattered around the settlements, matching with the austere facades of the buildings.
Pebble-mosaic cobblestone streets are surrounding the old mansions and houses, linking the various architectural styles together.

Museums

The Spetses Museum
The museum is housed in the superb mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis (The museum is housed in the superb mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis, one of the notables who played a leading part during the fight for the Greek Independence.

This 18th century building is an excellent example of the local architecture and has a flat façade with an arched ground floor patio supporting a second-storey), one of the notables who played a leading part during the fight for the Greek Independence.

This 18th century building is an excellent example of the local architecture and has a flat façade with an arched ground floor patio supporting a second-storey

The first floor is the only one open to the public and displays a collection of relics and objects depicting the island’s history and culture from the Early Helladic (or Classical) period to the beginning of the 20th century.

Sculptures, Roman coins, Byzantine icons, local costumes, embroideries, religious relics and items, portraits, historical documents and weapons are some of the various objects on display.

The Bouboulina Museum
This private museum is housed in the home of Bouboulina, and displays a collection of personal objects and household furnishing of the Spetsiote heroine. This traditional Spetsiote mansion is really interesting to visit for its collection but also for the astonishing wood-carved Florentine ceiling in the main salon.

Lascarina Bouboulina is one of the few female heroes of the Greek Revolution and the most strong and commanding women in modern Greek history.

She was born in 1771, lost her two husbands from pirate attacks and used the fortune and ships of the second one help the fight for independence.

She was part of the secret society, Filiki Etairia, which was founded by some Greek merchants and ship owners to organise the Revolution.

Sotirios Anargyros Mansion
It is one of the finest examples of the early 20th century architecture, with a spacious garden where palm trees and a pebble walk path with local motifs create a wonderful scene.

The house used to belong to Sotiris Anargyros, a Spetsiote who became rich in the tobacco industry in the United States, and who spent most of his money in various projects on Spetses.

The building has been declared of great historical and architectural value and is under historic preservation.

Photo tour
image hosted on flickr

I said, open up!
image hosted on flickr

Anargyros Mansion

Poseidonion hotel

The outskirts
image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Surroundings
image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

Our next stop...the city of Xanthi in Thrace.

See ya!

Bluedome · June 3rd, 2008, 05:34 AM

I just wanted to say that Spetses is gorgeous and is one of the most underrated islands in Greece. Thanks for the pics.

1821 · June 3rd, 2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluedome

I just wanted to say that Spetses is gorgeous and is one of the most underrated islands in Greece. Thanks for the pics.

Couldn't agree more with you Bluedome. I've been there before, great little island. The people are extremely friendly and welcoming. Will definitely go back next time I'm in Greece.

Giorgio · June 3rd, 2008, 02:19 PM

Wow, what an incredibly under-represented place!

pilotos · June 3rd, 2008, 04:43 PM

Well maybe the reason that is still well preserved

By the way whats this hole?
image hosted on flickr

arxeos · June 3rd, 2008, 06:34 PM

its a sarlac pit

kostis1993 · July 25th, 2011, 04:01 PM

Time to bring this thread back to life!

I took these photos during my vacation last week. For photos from Nafplio/Mycenae/Epidaurus, go here:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=232271&page=2 For photos from Athens, go here:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...0#post82089280

My favourite moment from my one-day trip to Spetses, was undoubtedly the visit to Laskarinas Bouboulinas house

October 14th, 2007, 04:08 AM	#1
GrigorisSokratis Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Athens, New York Posts: 1,331 Likes (Received): 0	Traditional architecture towns in Greece #4: Spetses Let's continue our trip, and this time we are heading to the town of Spetses in Spetses island. Located 190 kms SW from Athens you can reach the place either by car (you must cross by ferry the 2kms stretch once you arrived to Porto Heli in Argolida, Peloponnese; it's just a 10 minutes ride from there) or Hydrofoil from Athens; Plaka (near Leonidio, Arkadia) and Nafplion on the Peloponnese. Its population is around 4,500 and its history goes back to the 3rd millenium BC. In ancient times, it was known as Pityoussa and later as Petses. The town is the only settlement on the island and was one of the two only provinces in Greece that has fewer than five settlements and two municipalities. It is presently an independent municipality, with no local boundaries within the municipality. The use of motor vehicles is severely restricted on the island, so the public transportation system is generally provided by horse & carriage and water taxis. Some conventional taxis and buses are in operation, but they require a special license. Architecture Spetses is famous for its beautiful traditional architecture consisting in a mixture of 17th, 18th, 19th and early 20th century architectural style, testifying about the cultural and economical development and wealth of the island during those years, when it was, along with the island of Hydra, one of the greatest marine and industrial powers of Greece. Almost all the traditional houses have a courtyard decorated with pebble mosaics, inlaid with local motifs; those decorative beauties can be seen, if someone is lucky, when the garden’s gates of the houses are opened. Another characteristic of the traditional Spetsiote architecture is the flat, unadorned façade of the buildings. Beautiful Venetian mansions with tiled roofs, wooden balconies and bright coloured walls are standing next to superb neoclassical residences and 19th century two-storey houses with tiled roofs on which stone sculptures are standing, decorating it; those houses are usually painted in ochre or crème and have many large coloured windows. These buildings have an arched ground floor patio supporting the balcony of the second story. Fine marble squares are scattered around the settlements, matching with the austere facades of the buildings. Pebble-mosaic cobblestone streets are surrounding the old mansions and houses, linking the various architectural styles together. Museums The Spetses Museum The museum is housed in the superb mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis (The museum is housed in the superb mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis, one of the notables who played a leading part during the fight for the Greek Independence. This 18th century building is an excellent example of the local architecture and has a flat façade with an arched ground floor patio supporting a second-storey), one of the notables who played a leading part during the fight for the Greek Independence. This 18th century building is an excellent example of the local architecture and has a flat façade with an arched ground floor patio supporting a second-storey The first floor is the only one open to the public and displays a collection of relics and objects depicting the island’s history and culture from the Early Helladic (or Classical) period to the beginning of the 20th century. Sculptures, Roman coins, Byzantine icons, local costumes, embroideries, religious relics and items, portraits, historical documents and weapons are some of the various objects on display. The Bouboulina Museum This private museum is housed in the home of Bouboulina, and displays a collection of personal objects and household furnishing of the Spetsiote heroine. This traditional Spetsiote mansion is really interesting to visit for its collection but also for the astonishing wood-carved Florentine ceiling in the main salon. Lascarina Bouboulina is one of the few female heroes of the Greek Revolution and the most strong and commanding women in modern Greek history. She was born in 1771, lost her two husbands from pirate attacks and used the fortune and ships of the second one help the fight for independence. She was part of the secret society, Filiki Etairia, which was founded by some Greek merchants and ship owners to organise the Revolution. Sotirios Anargyros Mansion It is one of the finest examples of the early 20th century architecture, with a spacious garden where palm trees and a pebble walk path with local motifs create a wonderful scene. The house used to belong to Sotiris Anargyros, a Spetsiote who became rich in the tobacco industry in the United States, and who spent most of his money in various projects on Spetses. The building has been declared of great historical and architectural value and is under historic preservation. Photo tour image hosted on flickr I said, open up! image hosted on flickr Anargyros Mansion Poseidonion hotel The outskirts image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr Surroundings image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr image hosted on flickr Our next stop...the city of Xanthi in Thrace. See ya! __________________ Geography guide of Greece Greek Automobiles Industry Please help the victims of the catastrophic arsons in Greece, visiting www.ihelp.gr Plant your roots in Greece. Make your contribution to reforest the destroyed, by catastrophic arsons, Greek mountains and countryside

June 3rd, 2008, 04:43 PM	#5
pilotos καταχωρημένος χρήστης Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Larisa Posts: 1,692 Likes (Received): 1	Well maybe the reason that is still well preserved By the way whats this hole? image hosted on flickr __________________ my flickr Thessaly-The land of myths Tall Athens - The blog!

June 3rd, 2008, 06:34 PM	#6
arxeos Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Stockholm , Serres Posts: 615 Likes (Received): 65	its a sarlac pit __________________ c'' )

July 25th, 2011, 04:01 PM	#7
kostis1993 (Day)dreaming... Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Thessaloniki Posts: 2,367 Likes (Received): 35	Time to bring this thread back to life! I took these photos during my vacation last week. For photos from Nafplio/Mycenae/Epidaurus, go here:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...=232271&page=2 *For photos from Athens, go here:http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...0#post82089280 My favourite moment from my one-day trip to Spetses, was undoubtedly the visit to Laskarinas Bouboulinas house Last edited by kostis1993; July 25th, 2011 at 04:56 PM.*

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June 3rd, 2008, 05:34 AM	#2
Bluedome Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 284 Likes (Received): 0	I just wanted to say that Spetses is gorgeous and is one of the most underrated islands in Greece. Thanks for the pics.

June 3rd, 2008, 02:19 PM	#4
Giorgio nsa fun Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne/Adelaide Posts: 10,610 Likes (Received): 38	Wow, what an incredibly under-represented place! __________________ Impeccable Greece - you'll be amazed