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About Mandraki Bay and Hydra

Mandraki Bay is a quiet area of Hydra Island and offers a small 'cove-like' beach below the "Mandraki 1800 Taverna" and a much larger sandy beach further round the bay. Surrounding the bay are mountains that are quite rugged with some pine trees, olives, massive Jerusalem sage bushes which glow with yellow flowers in the spring and Euphorbia shrubs with multi green foliage. The beach at Mandraki is exactly 2 kilometres from the main town of Hydra. It can be reached along the level, wide coast road or by water taxi or traditional putt-putt boat. Alternatively, during high season, you can catch a ride with the MiraMare Beach Hotel boat.

The main beach has sun umbrellas and loungers to rent. The MiraMare Hotel, which is on the opposite side of the bay, also has a taverna plus a games room with slot machines, space invaders and a pool table that you are welcome to use. To the side of the hotel there is a large, sandy volley ball court.

During the high season water sports activities, such as wind-surfing, canoeing, pedaloes and water skiing are organised from the main beach. So renting Evangelia House is ideal for families with children between the ages of 5-16 who want a more traditional beach holiday, while their parents can relax and enjoy the scenery knowing that the younger members of the family are happy and safe. You could call from the terrace down to the beach, however it would probably be less noisy to put up a signal. A red towel hung over the wall, meaning, "come back lunch is ready" and so on!

Whether you use the quieter, pebble beach in front of the 1800 taverna or the main, sandy beach, you can be assured of clean, sparkling waters with gently shelving beaches, making it very safe for young children.

Footpaths branching off the road behind the bay lead to the monasteries that are perched on the top of some of the surrounding mountains. You are welcome to visit them but it's better if you go in the early morning so as to avoid the heat of the mid-day sun.

If you want more variety of places to dine and shops to browse, or generally want to see more of what Hydra has to offer, then a stroll or boat ride round to the main town will bring you to the main centre of activity on the island.

The main cathedral and it's little museum are a good place to start if you want to see an excellent example of Orthodox architecture and design. The cathedral welcomes people of all denominations and is open most of the time. If you visit, be sure to dress suitably please.

The Kountouriotis museum, a large yellow building behind the cathedral is also well worth a visit. This is a mansion house that's been restored to more or less exactly as it would have been in it's hay-day when the first Kountouriotis owner lived in it. And the Museum and Archives of Hydra, house lots of exhibits dating from the Greek War of Independence that reflect Hydra's nautical heritage.

There are many events during the year that Hydra celebrates with enthusiasm. Ephipany is celebrated on the 6th January, when boys and sometimes a few daring girls, dive into the water of the harbour to retrieve the cross that is thrown in by the priest. The person who brings it back safely is blessed and said to be favoured with good fortune for the rest of the year.

Carnival is celebrated with a parade around the town, up to Kamini, back along the high road and down into the town again. This happens on the Sunday, forty days before Paska (Orthodox Easter) to mark the start of Lent.

Paska, which is on the 1st May 2005, is a very moving celebration throughout Greece and is particularly beautiful and intimate on Hydra.

At the end of June (the weekend closest to the 24th) the island erupts in its largest celebration of the year when it commemorates the island's most important hero, Admiral Miaoulis. Celebrations go on all week and culminate with a huge firework display with coordinated, dramatic music and a re-enactment of the sinking of the Turkish fleet.

The 14th August is another holiday that is celebrated on Hydra along with the rest of Greece as is Oxi Day on the 28th October.

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Copyright 2004 Lili Markouizou ©
Launched 06/11/04
Last updated 08-Nov-04