When to visit Spetses

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When to visit Spestes:

Spetses is an ideal destination for both short and long holidays, whatever season you choose to visit you will have a wonderful time. During the spring and summer there are many options for food, drink and activities for all ages.

The season begins with the celebration of Easter, which apart from the encompassing religious character of the days, has its own rituals. Furthermore, during the season, sports races such as Spetsathlon, Spetses Mini Marathon & Spestes Classic Yacht Regatta. Also for art lovers, there are galleries and painting exhibitions.

The top festival, of the season, is the Armata celebration, which takes place every 2nd Saturday of September, has  historical, religious and cultural character. Τhe peak of event is the burning of the Turkish flagship, in the central port of Spetses, Dapia,  with music, special effects and a unique fireworks show.

 

Easter in Spetses:

Easter on the cosmopolitan island of Spetses is special and the rituals begin on Lazarus Saturday, where the children sing Lazarus carols. On Good Friday the procession of the epitaphs starts from the four parishes, Analipsi, St. Nikolaos, St. Antonios and St. Ioannis, with a common meeting point the square with the statue of Bouboulina in Dapia, all singing the praises together, while at the same time, the young people holding their epitaphs raise as high as they can, this process is an informal competition among the young people of the parishes.

On Holy Saturday night the options for the celebration are many:

In the Holy Monastery of All Saints in absolute silence and immersion, listening only to the chants of the nuns, the priest conveys the Holy Light to the faithful with reverence and absolute calm. At the same time, the nuns, carrying the banners and followed by the priest and the faithful, under the light of candles, are transported to the cemetery. The faithful among the memorials, which are decorated with candles and a red egg in each, all sing together Christ is Risen.

In the parish of fishermen, outside area of the church Ascension, the young people carry a small old boat, which they burn the moment the priest sings of the Risen Christ. Wonderful fireworks, crackers and sparklers offer color, excitement.

On Easter Sunday afternoon in the square with the statue of Bouboulina, you can watch the burning of the figure of Judas.

Attend the Great Vespers of Easter, the Love, in the church of St. Mamas, which been read in many foreign language.

 

Spetsathlon:

Triathlon competitions (running, cycling & swimming) of various categories but also relay race. They are usually held in April and are co-organized by the Spetsathlon Organizing Committee and the Hellenic Triathlon Federation.

For more information: http://spetsathlon.com

 

Spetses Mini Marathon:

The biggest sports event for all ages, with many categories of running and swimming. It is usually held in early October and attracts athletes from all over the world. It is organized by the Organizing Committee Spetses Mini Marathon and under the auspices of the Municipality of Spetses and the Hellenic Tourism Organization.

For more information: http://spetsesminimarathon.com

 

SCYR –  Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta:

The International Race of Classic and Traditional Yachts of Spetses is the most popular race of its kind in Greece, but also one of the most important in the Mediterranean. It is organized every summer, usually in June, by the Nautical Club of Greece and is under the auspices of the Municipality of Spetses and with the support of the Nautical Club of Spetses.

Sailing races of classic yachts, Kaikia and Latinos, rare hulls from Greece and abroad, in a great celebration of nautical sports and the traditional art of shipbuilding .

For more information: http://spetsesclassicregatta.gr

 

Armata Festival :

The most important festival of the island has a historical, religious and cultural character. The festivities begin in the second week of September with various cultural events, concerts, traditional venues, theatrical performances, art exhibitions and presentations. The culmination of the festival takes place on the 2nd Saturday of September, with the representation of the naval battle of Spetses and the burning of the Turkish flagship with wonderful fireworks, which took place on September 8, 1822, the day of the celebration of the Genesis of the Virgin Mary, which was one of most important victories for the liberation of the Greeks.

View of the amazing island of Spetses, Greece.

How to get to Spetses

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How to get to Spetses:

You can reach the island of Spetses in the following ways:

By flying dolphin & catamaran:

Flying dolphins and catamaran depart daily and throughout the year from the E9 gate to the port of Piraeus. The journey takes 2.5 to 3 hours.

Itineraries information: https://hellenicseaways.gr & https://alphalines.gr

 

By car or motorbike:

From Athens follow the National Road to Corinth, exit at Ancient Epidaurus and follow the signs to Costa & Spetses.

From areas of the Peloponnese you can reach Costa either through Nafplio, Ligourio or from the National Road Patras – Corinth.

From the port of Costa you can easily pass to Spetses by ferryboat “Katerina Star”, boat “Spetses express” or sea taxi.

Itineraries Information: +30 22980 72245 Spetses Port Authority

 

  • You can safely park your car in the private parking at the port of Costa, contact number: +30 27540 57256.
  • Only motorbike have access to the island of Spetses, by ferry boat”Katerina Star”

 

By bus:

Daily buses depart from Athens, from Ktel of Kifissos, to the port of Costa. The journey takes 3.5 hours.

Daily buses depart from Corinth and Nafplio to the port of Costa.

Itineraries information: https://www.ktelargolida.gr/

 

By private transport:

Taxi, van or Vip transport

We will be happy to assist you with the reservations for your private transfer!

16

Discover Spetses City tradition

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The city of Spetses stretches along the Old Port to Dapia and from Dapia to Kounoupitsa. It is surrounded by hills, with the highest one being the church of the prophet Elias where you can enjoy panoramic views of the island.

Arriving, you will disembark in Dapia which is its market, as most of the shops, banks, summer bars, some cafes, patisseries, traditional taverns and fast food restaurants are located there. Also, in the new port you can visit the museum of Bouboulina and Hatzigiannis Mexis – Museum of Spetses, to see the mansion of Sotiris Anargyriou with the impressive architecture, the clock tower, which was built in 1915, as well as the square with the full-length bronze sculpture of the heroine Laskarina Bouboulina, work of the sculptor Natalia Mela, which is a meeting point for young and old.

Following the coastal road, on the left of Dapia, passing the church of St. Mama, the Old Port begins, with the captain’s houses and the traditional architecture of the mansions that surround it, with the pebbled courtyards and the aromatic gardens. In the middle of the route we pass the metropolitan church of St. Nikolaos, with the elaborate pebble courtyard and the marble bell tower. While the sea side is adorned with yachts, yachts, modern and classic sailing boats, traditional boats as the coastline is a natural port. The Old Port is the center of the nightlife of the island as it brings together the famous seaside restaurants with Mediterranean and international cuisine, as well as the tasteful bars – clubs where you can enjoy signature cocktails and listen wonderful foreign and Greek music. Art lovers can visit the galleries that operate during the summer months, admiring unique works of art. At the end of the Old Port, in the area of the lighthouse, after the church of Panagia Armata, which is covered by pines and the shipyards operate by the sea, preserving the traditional art of shipbuilding, begins a wonderful walking path of the 11 sculptures, work of sculptor Natalia Mela. Characteristic is the full-length sculpture of the hero Kosmas Barbatsis, the mermaid, the owl and the life-size bull, in a beautiful natural environment with a wonderful view, is best location to enjoy the sunset.

On the right side of Dapia, by the seaside and after passing the square with the statue of Bouboulina, is the area of Kounoupitsa, where some restaurants, taverns and cafe-bars operate. Also in the same area, is the Town Hall of Spetses, housed in a neoclassical, listed mansion, donated by the family of Nikolaos Kyriakou, where Odysseas Elytis was hosted for many summers. Towards the end of Kounoupitsa, there is the neoclassical manstion of the first femaile Greek painter Eleni Boukoura Altamoura, who was born in 1821 in Spetses and studied painting in Italy in 1848, disguised as a boy. At the end of the settlement of Spetses, the facilities of the Anargyrios and Korgialenios School of Spetses (AKSS) that first opened in 1918. Operated until the 1983 as a model public school and exemplary boarding school. However, in nowadays the facilities are used as conference center and operate the Naval Club of Spetses.

The walks are the ideal way to get to know the city of the island!