Mansions
Hydra is famous for its local color, where the visitor can enjoy 200 year-old stone mansions, still standing strong. So strong, that they are still used by the high society of Hydra and therefore are not accessible, whereas others are used as public service bureau. The Sahtouris mansion currently houses the National Merchant Marine Academy of Greece. The Lazaros Kountouriotis mansion was bought by the Ministry of Culture and is used as a museum. Other famous mansions are those of Boudouris, the Voulgaris and the Rafalias.
Churches and monasteries
The nearest church, situated in the center of the harbour, is the Metropolis of Hydra. "Panagia Faneromeni" (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is easily distinguished by its prominent clock tower, with a big watch that announces religious events. You can also find other churches with beautiful domes resting on marble arches, such as Aghios Ioannis and Ypapanti. The most recently-built? church of the island is Aghios Konstantinos of Hydra, built on the ruins of an old family house. This is a church boasting wood carvings and a gold-plated temple. Among the numerous churches, there is also a number of monasteries such as the monastery of Profitis Ilias and Aghia Efpraxia, both built at 500 meters high at the foot of mount Eros. You can visit them all either by a lovely one-and-a-half-hour hike, or by donkey riding. Other monasteries are Aghia Triada (Holy Trinity), Aghios Nikolaos, Aghia Matrona and Zourva, situated on the eastern side of the island.
Museums
On the island you can find the four following museums:
- The Historical Archives Museum of Hydra where is kept, among other items, the heart of the great admiral Andreas Miaoulis.
- The Byzantine Museum with a collection of ecclesiastic items
- The mansion of Lazaros Kountoutiotis which is under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture
- Finally, the mansion of Pavlos Kountouriotis, an imposing building in the entrance of the port.