Hydra ('EE-dra') is a day trip from Athens. It has no cars, is an artist's colony, has an attractive harbor and lots of hills to hike on. Old sea captain's mansions line the harbor and are interesting to visit.

At high season it is a tourist trap and the destination of a number of day cruises from Athens.

The island was an organizing point in the Greek War of Independence with the residents providing much of the navy for the rebellion.

Hydra was the setting for the 1957 film Boy on A Dolphin marking the Hollywood debut of Sophia Loren. Leonard Cohen lived here for a while, composing songs for his second album.

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