House and Bust of Konstantinos Kanaris

Within a fenced plot stood the house where the legendary fireship captain Konstantinos Kanaris (1793 – 1877) was born. His real name was Konstantis Nikolaou Spilioteas. Kanaris was not only a hero of the Greek War of Independence of 1821; he also played a significant role in the politics of the newly formed Greek state. During King Otto’s reign, Kanaris was called back to service, serving as admiral, and he also served as Minister for Naval Affairs. In the summer of 1862 he was tasked with forming a government and became prime minister twice. In total, he served as prime minister four times, during which the Hellenic Parliament voted or amended the Constitution twice. Kanaris died of a heart attack in 1877 while still in office. His original house on Psara was completely destroyed by the Turks in 1824. Today, the site hosts a small garden and his bust, flanked by two cannons of the era, and it is among Psara’s most important sights.