An untapped treasure on Hydra

With its vernacular architecture, beautiful courtyard, expansive view and solid, castle-like presence, the Pavlos Kountouriotis Mansion on the island of Hydra is one of those buildings that are hard to forget.

It was built in the early 19th century by Georgios Kountouriotis, an influential businessman whose family owned almost half of the island's fleet, and who was also a popular politician and even served as prime minister under King Otto.

Pavlos Kountouriotis was his grandson, a naval hero, legendary admiral of the Averoff warship during the Balkan Wars and also a politician who rose through the ranks to become president. He was very attached to his family home and tried to keep up with the property's maintenance even though he lived in Athens. He died in the Greek capital in 1935, but was buried near the mansion, according to his wishes - so he could be close...

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