Mention of Spetses always brings to mind the image of its high harbour wall, the cafes in front and the old picturesque houses behind.This is Dapia, as it is called, from which the visitor goes down to the pier where the boats tie up.
The road down makes a turn and continues to the east. You have the sea and a brisk northern breeze on your left and the lofty old mansions with their little windows and their salt encrusted walls on your right.
This road brings you out finally to the picturesque ancient harbour, which even today is full of various crafts and is the place to find quaint fish taverns.
Spetses is an island with a great seafaring tradition, like Hydra. Its symbol is the figure of Bouboulina, the legendary sea- captain, the heroine who made a major contribution to the uprising against the Turks in 1821. With Spetses as her base, she set out with her vessels to besiege Nafplio and Monemvasia and later, mounted on her white horse, was one of the first to enter Tripolitsa when it was freed from the Turkish yoke.
Spetses is an island green with pine trees and lies at the entrance to the Argolic gulf. It has an area of 22 sq km and a population of approximately 4000. It has a sound tourist infrastructure and thusis summer many visitors, mostly Athenians, come in search of its peaceful beaches by day and its vivid nightlife.
Spetses can be reached every day from Piraeus, a distance of 52 nautical miles, both by ferry and by “flying dolphins’ ‘. Cars are not allowed on the island.
From Spetses you can visit by ship or “flying dolphin” Hydra, Aegina,Poros and all other stops made along the coast of the Peloponnese.
History
Spetses, whose name in antiquity was Pityousa, was inhabited around 2500 BC as it can be seen from the finds made in Agia Marina. Between then and the 17th century when Spetses began to develop into a major seafaring power, its recorded history contains little of interest. In the uprising of 1821 its ships fought against the Turks and its contribution to final victory was amongst the most important.
Spetses, the capital of the island, is in the north-eastern coast, opposite Kosta in Peloponnese. The square of Dapia, above the harbour, has great charm. Cannons used in the War of Independence of 1821 still stand next to the cafe tables. Behind the square is Bouboulina;s house.
It’s worth visiting the museum and some of the old mansions which have now been restored and are reminiscent of the past glory and wealth of the island. The cathedral and the churches of All Saints and Our Lady are also worth a visit.
Among the attractive beaches which can be reached by caique are Vrellos and Zonkeria, on the north coast of the island where the pines grow on the very water’s edge. Close to the town are beaches of Kounoupitsa and Agia Marina. South of Spetses is the green islet of Spetsopoula, which is, however, privately owned.