5 Best Performing Arts Venues in The Saronic Gulf Islands, Greece

Running from late July through August, this magical event brings leading Greek and international classical musicians to open-air stages on Avra Beach—right in front of the Kolona archaeological site, and in the courtyard of Sotiras Church. It remains under the artistic direction of renowned pianist Dora Bakopoulou. Tickets are sold in advance at Aiakeion Café-Patisserie on the port esplanade and at the venues on the night.

The island celebrates its crucial role in the War of Independence with the Miaoulia, which takes place the last weekend of June. At around 10 pm on Saturday night, Hydra's small port goes dark, and a journey into history commences as the day's festivities culminate in a reenactment of the night Admiral Miaoulis loaded a vessel with explosives and sent it upwind to the Turkish fleet back in 1821. Naturally, the model enemy's ship goes down in flames. Fireworks, music, traditional dancing, treasure hunts, and sports competitions all accompany the burning of the fleet, a glorious part of Hydra's Naval Week.

Thousands flock in from all over Greece to attend the Armata Festival celebrations on Spetses, held in honor of Panagia Armata (Virgin Mary "of the Army"), in what is probably the most glorious weekend on the island's calendar. During the second week of September, Spetses mounts an enormous harbor-front reenactment of a War of Independence naval battle (the epic battle took place on September 8, 1822), complete with costumed fighters and burning ships. Book your hotel well in advance if you wish to see this popular event. There are also concerts and exhibitions during the week leading up to it.

Two of the most important festivals held at Agios Nektarios Monastery are Whit Monday (the day after Pentecost) and 9 November, the saint’s feast day, when the silver reliquary containing his remains is carried down from the monastery and through the streets, which are covered with carpets and strewn with flowers. The 9 November procession is regarded as one of the island’s major religious events, drawing pilgrims from all over Greece.

On the Assumption of the Virgin (15 August), the biggest summer holy day in the Orthodox calendar, a celebration is held at Panagia Chrysoleontissa, a fortified mountain monastery built between 1600 and 1651 to protect its miraculous icon from pirate raids. Thousands attend liturgy at dawn, followed by a daylong panigyri of music, dancing, and open-air grills—one of the island’s largest festivals.