Spetses Island

With an area of 2013.87 hectares, a total perimeter of 26.4 km and a maximum altitude of 245.0 m, Spetses island has been characterized as a landscape of particular natural beauty, a biotope, a historic site and a traditional settlement in the built-up area.

This historic island is located 1.5 miles off the coast of Ermionida. In its a calm landscape with green pine-covered hills that alternate with cultivated areas (Pityousa was the name of the island in ancient times because of its abundance of pine trees (Piteis or Pityes). The only settlement of the island is located on the NE side of the island, on sloping ground and along the beach. The residential complex and its parts present a clarity and specificity that is not due to a strict urban planning organization, but mainly to the size and quality relationships between the elements that make it up. There are many neoclassical mansions and historical monuments, 60 of them have been designated as Archaeological Sites Monuments. Indicative of the architectural wealth and history of Spetses, it is the excerpt from the Ministerial Decision on the designation of its monuments, according to which “We classify the following Mansions, Temples and other buildings of Spetses as historically preserved monuments, because they gather architectural and morphological features which are a valuable testimony to the cultural life of the island of Spetses at the end of the 18th century and to its Christian past […]“.

During the Ottoman occupation, Spetses emerged as one of the main Greek naval forces and helped in the national struggle with the participation of historical figures such as Hatzigiannis Mexis, Kosmas Barbatsis, Laskarina Bouboulina. Commercial and maritime activity plummeted after 1860, hence the island fell into decline. Today it thrives as an important tourist center. The person who contributed to the reshaping of the economic, cultural and environmental characteristics of Spetses is undoubtedly Sotiris Anargyros with his timely interventions at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, Spetses is one of the most important tourist centers of the Argosaronic region.

The walk along the internal road that starts from Dapia and ends at the old port is interesting. Traditional fishing boat yards (karnaya), naval workshops and a number of windmills are still preserved. In 2021, the island became worldwide known by the director Maggie Gyllenhaal, for the film “The Lost Daughter”, which was mostly filmed in Spetses. The star cast included the Oscar winner Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Ed Harris. The film was nominated for an Oscar, while the music was written by Monica. Apart from the harmonious built environment, the island has excellent beaches with sand (Saint Paraskevi, Saint Marina, Posidonio, Zogeria) or pebbly (Saint Mammas, Vrellos, Agioi Anargyroi, Xilokeriza), a huge pine forest, paths for walking or cycling. The use of cars is prohibited except for Public use) and a rich artistic and nightlife. The dominant cultural event is the well-established “Armata“, which takes place in the second week of September in commemoration of the naval battle of Spetses in 1822.

Important sporting events with strong tourist interest have been organized in Spetses in recent years. The Spetsathlon concerns the country’s largest Triathlon in Spetses in the month of May, with the participation of top athletes from Greece and abroad. The International Race of Classic and Traditional Boats in Spetses (Spetses Classic Yacht Regatta, SCYR), is now an institution with the sailing races of classic boats, caiques and Latin boats. Finally the TWEED RUN SPETSES, the exciting old-time cycling event that started in 2009 from London and spread to the most important metropolises of the world, has come to Spetses!

As a habitat, it has characteristic habitats with the presence of Remarkable Amphibians / Reptiles such as, Coluber caspius, Cyrtodactylus kotschyi kotschyi, Elaphe quatuorlineata quatuor Amoibi (Laphokim) and finally Remarkable Plants such as Papaver somniferum setigerum , Phlomis cretica.