Making the most out of your Spetses holidays

http://www.aroundspetses.com/
Making the most out of your Spetses holidays
Spetses has an area of 25 sq km, and a coast of about 27 km. Spetses has a couple of main harbours; the newer being Dapia (that means 'fortress') that's perfectly located at the centre of Spetses Town (the island's capital) and the older, Palio Limani, found nearby in the fishing settlement of Analipsi.

The population of Spetses is around 3500 and 4000. The majority of Spetses is covered by a dense pine forest, that's part of the island's great beauty, and is deemed a protected environment. There's only one town, Spetses Town, which expands along the coast facing Argolida in the Peloponnse.The rest of the island is practically uninhabited.

Spetses Town now has its fair share of night clubs and takeaway food places, but there is also Paleo Limani (Old Harbor), which is a bit more traditional: 18th-century Italian-style mansions (archontika) that happen to be the property of prosperous Athenian families who go back to Spetses every summer are what prevails there.

Spetses is accessible by motorboat or Flying Dolphin from the port of Piraeus or from the gorgeous local islands of Poros, Hydra and Aegina..

Spetses is famous for its charming attractive villages, as well as a rich naval history and the most important role it played in the Greek War of Independence. It is also the birthplace of the renowned female war hero Bouboulina, whose home is now a museum.

Visitors have the possiblity to re-live those daring times, surrounded by remarkable historic sites which are maintained with care and love.

Spetses town (aka Kastelli) is found on the harbor and inland in a lazy trend, with a lot of of its neoclassical mansions partly hidden from envious eyes by high walls and greenery. A great deal of the town's street life takes place on the important square, the Dapia, the name also given to the harbor where ferries and hydrofoils now arrive. The massive bulk of the 19th-century Poseidon Hotel dominates the west end of the port.

Spetses is an distinctive Greek island, only 2 hours faraway from Athens, has been elected the favourite summer residence location by the Athenian elite. Cars are not granted on Spetses, and now have been replaced by horse-drawn carriages and licensed taxis.

The Greek mainland is a ten-minute water-taxi ride from Spetses. This means that you can easily go to ancient theatre of Epidavros, the old capital city of Greece and also Mycenae (one hour's drive away). Last but not least, half an hour away by speedy hovercraft is the picturesque and modern island of Hydra. Smaller sized holiday boats sail from the island of Spetses to the village of Kosta on the mainland, where you can find a nice beach.