“The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece, eternal summer
gilds them yet…”
Lord Byron was on to something when he waxed lyrical about
the Greek islands. But with more than 200 to choose from, which ones are the
very best Greek islands? Here regular isle-hopper Rachel Howard reveals the
ones to get in a speedboat for in 2020…
3. HYDRA
Best Greek island for: a long weekend with the art crowd
You know when Dakis Joannou, Greece's foremost art
collector, is on Hydra. His yacht, Guilty, is painted in gaudy 'camouflage' by
Jeff Koons. Every summer, Joannou invites big hitters such as Matthew Barney
and David Shrigley to create site-specific installations in the Greek island's
old slaughterhouse. Even the school is commandeered for exhibitions in the
summer holidays. Car-free and protected by a preservation order, Hydra has
always been the artists' muse of the Greek Islands. Leonard Cohen set the scene
in the 60s; now Brice Marden, Sadie Coles and Juergen Teller have homes here. Athenian
artists take up residence at the School of Fine Arts, one of the vast, grey,
stone mansions overlooking the horseshoe harbour. Musicians of all stripes
rehearse and record at the (Old Carpet Factory), an 18th-century residence
whose double-height ceilings and underground cistern have incredible acoustics
Less than two hours from Athens, Hydra fills up with chic
Greeks at weekends. . They come to disconnect and slow down, but also to see
and be seen. Wily cats and weary donkeys patrol the back alleys, but all the
action happens along the waterfront. Oh look! There's Olivia Palermo at The
Pirate Bar and Chloë Sevigny shaking her tail feather at Hydronetta beach bar.
Who cares if there are barely any beaches? You can always find a slab of
sun-baked rock from which to leap rock from which to dive into the clearest
water in the world.
Where to stay in Hydra: Built in 1796, nine-room Orloff
Boutique Hotel oozes old-world charm. If a pool is a priority, check into
atmospheric Bratsera. To get in with the art crowd, stay at a leading local
Artist's Villa (like the one pictured), available through Hipaway. Or bring a
big gang and take over one of the fabulous old captain’s houses such as Hydra
House, available through Scott Williams.
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
εδώ: www.cntraveller.com/gallery/best-greek-islands-beaches
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