Day 3: The Laskarina Bouboulina Museum-House on Spetses Island, Greece (July 2007)
In July 2007, the Laskarina Bouboulina Museum-House was a two-story, traditional Greek stone mansion on Spetses Island, Greece, built in the late 17th century with defense elements like a meter-wide stone walls, arches, and heavy doors. Its facade likely featured imposing outdoor stairs leading to the entrance, an internal front yard, and a two-story layout typical of wealthy island homes of the era. The mansion's rich architectural features included arches on the ground and first floors, and a famous carved wooden ceiling from Florence on the first floor.
Architectural Features
Materials:
The house was constructed from local stone, with walls approximately one meter thick.
Layout:
It was a two-story building with arches on both the ground and first floors.
Internal Structure:
It featured a distinctive internal front yard, a common architectural element in wealthy homes of that period.
Historical Elements:
The building's design incorporated defensive features, such as embrasures (openings for weapons) and heavy doors.
Exterior and Access
Entrance:
Visitors ascended "imposing outdoor stairs" to reach the museum's entrance on the main floor.
Courtyard:
The mansion had an internal front yard, a feature characteristic of its style.
Location:
Situated close to Dapia harbor, it was easily accessible by foot from the bustling waterside area.
Historical Context
Origin:
The mansion was built around 1660-1670 by a Mauritian architect with training in Florence.
Purpose:
It served as the residence of Laskarina Bouboulina, a prominent heroine of the Greek War of Independence.
Architectural Style:
The mansion represented a style of grand, traditional Greek architecture found on the island.
Preservation
The museum was established in 1991 by Bouboulina's descendants to save the historic mansion from collapse.
Extensive renovation efforts were undertaken to preserve the building and its important historical artifacts.