In
ancient times the island was called 'Pityoussa' which means 'pine-clad'.
This name was probably used for 3,000 years until the first centuries of
the Byzantine Empire. The current name originates from the Venetians, who
named the island 'Isola de Spezzie' - fragrant island - because of the
many herbs that grew on its mountains. The name Spetses was later derived
from this description.
At a timewhen tourism was more or less unknown in
the rest of Greece, Spetses already had an excellently organised hotel,
the renowned 'Possidonio'. This hotel was built by the national
benefactor, Sotirios Anargyros and entertained both Greek and foreign
visitors throughout the summers and also at weekends during the winter
months.
Spetses is today one of the favourite islands of
both Greek and foreign tourists, maintaining its cosmopolitan style with
visits from V.I.P.s. from all parts of the world. Its location (2 hours by
road or sea from Athens), regular connections with Piraeus, and the
proximity of the Peloponnesian coast (1.3 miles) make the island easily
accessible.
Archaeological discoveries indicate
that Spetses was first inhabited during the first Hellenic era, at about
2,300 B.C. On account of its geographical location in the Argolic Gulf and
its numerous springs, the island was used as a provision station by ships
heading to the Peloponnesian coast.
In recent years, numerous
excavations have been carried out in several areas and have brought to
light significant historical findings, such as:
>Pottery of the first Hellenic period 3rd millennium B.C. in the area of
Aghia Marina.
>Early Byzantine basilicas in the area of Baltiza.
>Byzantine settlement in Zogeria
In addition there are important findings of marine
archaeology, such as:
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The bronze-age shipwreck of 'Dokos' (2,200B.C.),
considered to be the oldest known shipwreck in the world. The findings of
the shipwreck are in the process of being cleaned and restored - a
difficult and long-term procedure that requires great patience and takes
place in specially converted rooms of the Museum of Spetses - the most
organised museum in the region and that with the highest level of
security.
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The Mycenaean shipwreck of 'Iria', dated approximately
1,200B.C. The findings of this shipwreck have been restored at the Museum
of Spetses and today are exhibited on the ground floor. This exhibition
consists of stone anchors, large earthen jars from Cyprus, false-necked
amphora from Crete, Mycenaean pottery, and much more.
From the 17th century, the population of the island
increased, with settlers coming from the Peloponnesian regions of Lakonia,
Kynouria and Hermionida. From reports and discoveries, we know that the
first medieval settlement of Spetses was built on the northwest side of
the island in the area called 'Kastelli', which means 'the island castle'.
Walls surrounded the settlement and the acropolis was on the hill where
the church of St. Basil stands today.
The golden era of the island began
in the 18th century and continued until the beginning of the War of
Independence in 1821. During this period, there were significant
developments in navigation methods, and a powerful fleet was built and
maintained until 1854. After the War of Independence, the island retained
its prosperity for several years but at the dawn of the 20th century,
Spetses began to decline, mainly because of the transfer of merchant
development and activity to Syra and Piraeus. The two World Wars brought
poverty and many inhabitants were forced to leave the island. At the end
of the Second World War, Spetses started to overcome these years of
decline and developed quickly due to the wave of tourism that deluged
Greece from the mid-fifties onwards, always though, maintaining its
traditions and habits. Spetses is a small
island, which has been honoured for its important contribution to the War
of Independe-nce in 1821 and the liberation of Greece from the Otto-man
occuption.
In 1769, the people of Spetses
took part in the revolution of the Peloponnese, ('Orlof's revolt') and
suffered the consequences of their participation when the Ottomans
destroyed the town in a punitive expedition. The Spetsiots once again
showed their patriotism in 1790, helping Lambros Katsonis, and again
suffered Ottoman persecution.
When the War of Independence broke
out in 1821, Spetses was the first of the three important naval islands
(Hydra, Spetses, and Psara) to respond to the call of the revolution.
These three islands raised revolutionary flags from the very
beginning.
On April 3rd 1821, after the church
service at St. Nicholas, the Spetsiots took over the chancellery of the
island and formed a local administration in order to advise Hydra and
Psara. At the outset, the Spetsiot ships, under the command of G.Panou and
Laskarina Bouboulina, succeeded in cutting off the coastal forts of
Monemvassia and Nafplion respectively. These two Ottoman strongholds were
impregnable by land and the only way to make them surrender was a naval
blockade, in order to cut off supplies provided by the Turks and their
allies. Influenced by the actions of the Spetsiots, the islands of Hydra
and Psara joined the Revolution. The Spetses fleet seized and sank Ottoman
vessels throughout the Aegean Sea, and supported the struggle of the
nation by blockading important harbours and carrying arms and munitions.
In July 1821, ships from Spetses fought with a squadron of the powerful
Ottoman fleet near the island of Samos and maaged to destroy a number of
ene-my vessels, and then succeeded in repelling the Turks at the bay of
Mani.
During the naval blockade of
Nafplion, the Spetsiots displayed unrivalled heroism, fighting under the
command of Bouboulina and the other captains. Under a hail of fire, they
were trying, with small boats, to reach and take the impregnable forts of
Nafplion. They also played an important role in the conquest of Tripolitsa,
where they took part in the siege of the town from the beginning, and on
the day of its fall, on September 23rd they were the first to reach the
town walls. In July 1822, the Spetsiot fleet was sent to Souda, in Crete,
to fight the Egyptian fleet, which was allied with the Turks, and which
they chased to the entrance of the Dardanelle Straits. That same year the
Spetsiots fought against General Dramalis, who was invading the
Peloponnese, managing to repulse the attack of the Ottoman fleet on their
island, and also fought at Messolong.
The figure that
dominated the naval operations of the 1821 War of Independence was
Laskarina Bouboulina. She became a member of the 'Filiki Etairia', an
underground organisation originating in Europe, which, for many years,
made preparations for the revolution. She also built the 'Agamemnon',
which was her flagship, and three other, smaller ships, at her own
expense. She used her fortune for the provision of food, arms and
ammunitions for her sailors and soldiers.
Hatzigiannis-Mexis, the leading Spetsiot of the
time, as well as the fire raiser Cosmas Barbatsis, and the captains
Lambrou, Koutsis, Panou and Tsoupas, were significant figures that
decisively helped the contribution of Spetses to the revolution.
The visitor has the chance to learn about the events
of that period at the many historic places, which are carefully maintained
by the Spetsiots.
