Hydroussa

Ydroussa, a picturesque settlement in northwestern Samos, 7 km southwest of Karlovasi, is set in lush surroundings of vineyards, forests and running waters. It retains elements of traditional architecture and has significant religious monuments, such as the Church of Saints Athanasios and Kyrillos (1782) and the chapel of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the Petalouda area (1663). The settlement was first inhabited before 1625, and its name, adopted in 1950, comes from the ancient Greek “hydor ousa,” due to the many springs in the area. The economy is based mainly on agriculture, with horticulture, viticulture and olive growing, while tobacco cultivation once dominated. Notable events include the feast of St. John the Baptist on 29 August, and the surrounding area is of great archaeological interest with finds from antiquity and the Byzantine period.