Hydra

We arrived at the island of Hydra in the Saronic Gulf. The name Hydra has to do with the many water springs that existed here in ancient times. As we sail into the harbor, we can already see the beautiful mansions—remnants of the time when Hydra was one of the richest and most powerful islands of Greece in the 18th century. The island is very rugged and has no farmland, so the inhabitants devoted themselves entirely to seafaring. Hydra built an impressive commercial and war fleet and became an important maritime player in the Mediterranean. When we moored our boat at the quay, we were right next to a group of donkeys. I had already read that the island is completely car-free. Transport is done by donkey, horse, mule, or water taxi. This creates an atmosphere very different from that on other islands. Check out our drone video to see how beautifully Hydra lies by the sea, built against the mountainsides yet sheltered from waves and wind.