School of Fine Arts (Tombazis Mansion)
One of Hydra's great landmarks, the Tombazis Mansion stands on the west side of the harbour, near the statue of Admiral Koundouriotis. Built around 1800 for Iakovos Tombazis — admiral of the Hydriot fleet in the 1821 Revolution — this imposing four-storey stone mansion is one of the finest of the island's captains' houses.
Since 1936 it has served as the Hydra annex of the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA), established here by the painter Periklis Vyzantios. It works as an artists' residence and exhibition space, and over the decades has hosted artists and writers from Greece and abroad. Its interior is decorated with paintings of historical scenes and ships of 1821.
Visiting: the mansion is first of all a working art school and residence, but it can usually be visited during working hours, and each summer it opens to the public for exhibitions and cultural events — the best time to step inside. Do check locally for the current opening days and whichever exhibition is on.
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