Sunday 22 December 2019

The Lazaros Koundouriotis mansion in Hydra




We visited the Koundouriotis mansion on a day when it was too windy to go swimming.

Lazaros Koundouriotis was an eminent political figure of Hydra and one of the most imposing people during the War of Independence from the Turkish  occupation of Greece for 400 years. He consistently served the Greek nation, spending most of his money to finance the Greek fleet. His brother, George, served as president of the Provisional Government in the last years of the War of Independence.

Located near Hydra's port, the archontiko, or manor, provides a superb example of Hydra's 18th century mansions, whose architecture often reflects influences from abroad. Built in 1780, it was donated to the Historic-Ethnologic Institute of Greece by the family's descendants and today operates as a branch of the National Museum of History.





The steps that lead to the house took us to a large courtyard with steps leading up to the first floor.











The views from here are stunning -  the hills at the back




and of the harbour at the front.




We left the terrace and started exploring the house




the main hall




a figurehead










nice cosy corners below the majestic ceiling in the adjoining rooms




the study/office




a traditional Greek sitting room



plenty of icons




including some below the ceiling with an incense burner 





Dionysis Tsokos, Eleni Lazarou Kounrourioti





a sitting room




an informal dining room




another sitting room, or kathistiko, lots of guns on the wall















Unfortunately, I did not record the artists of the paintings above




Next stop, the kitchen










and then, the steps




that lead down to the basement







a loom






a second large kitchen here, where I presume the initial preparation/cooking took place before taking the dishes upstairs for the final stages, before serving







the rest of the rooms in the basement are now being used as a picture gallery








Landscape by Constantinos Byzantios, 1967




The Fall, by Constantinos Byzantios, 1990




Angel, by Constantinos Byzantios, 1985




Light, Periklis Byzantios, 1969




A Student's Room in the Fine Arts School in Hydra, 1954




Douskos' Coffee Shop, Periklis Byzantios, 1954




A small terrace at the back of the basement




We left the basement, and returned to the main terrace before going up the stairs to the first floor







the view from the first floor terrace








The first floor is being used as an ethnographic museum with traditional costumes




pottery








the view from the window







another loom



a crib




and another one



a good example of traditional embroidery - was this used as a towel?




a sitting area










some paintings by Panayiotis Tetsis.





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