The mansion of Laskarina Bouboulina has become Laskarina’s Museum, founded in 1991 by her descendant Philip Demertzis-Bouboulis. The Museum is located at 100 m distance from the Harbour of Dapia.
During the 40-minute guided tour, visitors can learn about the life of the heroic Captain, Laskarina Bouboulina; her birth in the prison of Istanbul, her contribution to the Greek War of Independence of 1821, her sacrifices for her country and her tragic death. Among the items exhibited in the Museum, there are collections of arms, old books, porcelains, documents and letters dating back to the years of the Revolution, paintings and ship models, portraits and gravings of the heroine, personal items, maps, busts, byzantine icons, furniture and items from the 17th through the 20th century, as well as the impressing hand carved Florentine ceiling in the Grand Salon of the Mansion.
Bouboulina’s Mansion was built towards the end of 1th century by a Mauritan architect. The Mansion is U shaped, indicating the the importance of the landlord. The Mansion has a ground-floor and two floors. An external stone stair leads from the front yard to the first floor, where the Museum is housed. The visiting space of the Museum on the first floor consists of four big rooms. The Grand Salon is the most impressive space of the Mansion; it is the place where War meetings took place during the Revolution. In the Dining Room, the visitors’ attention is caught by the wooden model of Bouboulina’s flagship, “Agamemnon”.
There are also collections of porcelains, mainly of English and Chinese origin, as well as post-byzantine icons, among which the icon of Agios Nikolaos is the most impressive. Rare books are open and exhibited in shelves. In the Hall, the visitors can see Bouboulina’s personal items and admire the beautiful large painting, which is a copy of the well-known painting of the heroine by the famous Peter Von Hess. The fireplace room is the everyday room of the Mansion, with 19th century furniture. Here, the visitors can see pictures of Bouboulina’s descendants, as well as some every day items.
Edited and translated by Yallou
For more information visit www.bouboulinamuseum-spetses.gr