Kiafa, Hydra Island Greece
The meaning of Kiafa is Top!
Located South-South-West above Hydra Town is the area known as Kiafa. It was one of the first populated areas as it was a safe haven, high enough for lookouts to spot any marauding ships heading to the island.
The area still has streets that show evidence of the covered bridges that spanned between the neighbouring houses which allowed families to escape without going into the streets. Most of the houses in Kiafa still have the distinctive iron work protecting street level windows. (I hasten to add that these days with such a low crime rate on Hydra, the iron work is purely decorative.)
The Church of the island's Patron Saint, Aghios Konstantinos is built on the site of the martyr's birth place in Kiafa. The annual name day celebration is one of the busiest day of the year. Normally though, the area is very quiet as it is residential and off the normal paths of tourists.
Ag. Konstantinos is one of the destinations of Harriet Jarman with her Harriet's Hydra Horses treks.
Kiafa is a very picturesque area with lots of pretty corners and stunning vistas to draw and paint. The English artist Jacqueline Savidge has her home and studio in Kiafa and runs Creative Arts & Crafts Residential Courses.
Kiafa has a good mix of local Hydriots and international residents. There are no hotels or guesthouses but a growing number of houses for holiday letting. Most of the holiday houses such as Pefko House, are large and geared up for guests who intend spending most of their time 'at home' on Hydra during their visit. Privacy and seclusion in Kiafa is more or less guaranteed. For people who are looking for property for sale, there are a distinctive few houses on the market to consider.
There are some stunning walks to be had in the area, so it's popular with hikers especially out-of-season and even with those walker who prefer to stay on a more identifiable path. The routes down to the town or even across the house line above Hydra and Kamini heading west to Vlychos are very easy, interesting and wonderfully picturesque.
The peace and quiet of Kiafa is only really disturbed twice a year. At the beginning of April when it's at its most colourful with Spring flowers, during the weekend of the Hydra Trail Events, the local residents come out onto the streets to yell, clap and whistle their support for the runners. And again at the end of the year during November, the tranquility of the area is interrupted with the more sedate bell chimes, chanting and hushed chatter of the congregation who make the pilgrimage from town to celebrate Hydra's Patron St. Day at Ag. Konstantinos.
Images
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