Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion- Museum

In 1979, Pantelis Koundouriotis, a descendant of Lazaros Koundouriotis, donated his family mansion in Hydra to the National Historical Museum (which is permanently housed in the Palace of the Old Parliament in Athens) with the prospect of operating the historic residence as a museum. Since the summer of 2001, after many years of restoration, the historic house is open to the public and operates as an annex of the National Historical Museum. It is open to visitors from the end of March to the end of October. Lazaros Koundouriotis (1769-1852) was an important political figure both in the pre-revolutionary years and during the Greek War of Independence. His contribution in terms of wealth, political skills and influence on Greek political and military leaders was enormous. He became involved in the public affairs of his island at an early age, demonstrating administrative skills. Together with his brother Georgios Koundouriotis, he supported the Greek War of Independence with all his might, both with significant financial offers and with the participation of the family's ships in the Greek naval operations. Although he never became a politician, despite the proposals made to him, he played an important role in the political developments of the Greek War of Independence and, thanks to his good-natured character, enjoyed the esteem of his compatriots and all Greeks. During the Kapodistrian period (1828-1831), Ioannis Kapodistrias appointed him temporary governor of Hydra as "one of the eminent", while in 1844 Othon appointed him senator, a position he held until his death. The house of the Procurator of Hydra, Lazaros Koundouriotis, built at the end of the 18th century, in the era of the island's naval prosperity, dominates the western side of the bay of Hydra. In the mansion of this important political figure of modern Greece, important meetings and consultations took place regarding the Greek Revolution of 1821. The Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece, faithful to the wishes of the donors and recognizing the value of the Koundouriotis Mansion within the residential and historical context of Hydriote, has preserved unchanged all its historical and architectural elements and has created the exhibition spaces that are open to visitors. On the ground floor, the residence is presented as it was experienced by the last descendant of the family and donor Pantelis Koundouriotis, with furniture, utensils, paintings and personal belongings of the Koundouriotis family. On the upper floor, a remarkable collection of the National Historical Museum (traditional costumes, jewelry, decorative and utilitarian objects) is exhibited with reference mainly to the traditional art of the island. In the basement, in the old cellars of the house, there is a permanent exhibition of paintings by the two Greek and world famous painters Periklis Vyzantios (1893-1972) and his son Konstantinos (Dikos) Vyzantios (1924-2007), who are closely connected with Hydra and the Koundouriotis family.