Visiting Greece can be a great experience, Athens, the Acropolis, the Plakas, the Acropolis museum and all the historic places; it is the cradle of western civilization! The food such as fried tomatoes, gyros, moussaka, slovaki, and the list goes on… and the Greek Islands, the Aegean Sea; it’s a paradise on earth with the turquoise water and breathtaking views on the background.
Can you imagine exploring a place here in US soil that can immediately transport you to Greece? Yes, there is a small town with Greek heritage in the state of Florida! And visiting this place can be a mesmerizing experience.
The City of Tarpon Springs in Pinellas Florida has a rich Greek heritage and it can be thanks to a sea resources found in the Gulf’s coast.
The city sprung in the 1880’s when fishermen discovered sponges in the Florida’s gulf while hunting for turtles. Upon such discovery, the sponge industry flourished and Greek settlers came to the area to work in the business.
As an added point; Greece has a well developed sponge industry, sea sponges are abundant in the warm waters of southeastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean Sea around the Dodecanese Islands. The Greeks capitalized on these resources and therefore, they became sponge divers who would hunt sponges in the bottom of the sea. With time, they just became expert in the sponge diving and even revolutionized the industry by inventing the diving suit or “skafandro” which allowed drivers to breathe via an air hose connected to the boat and therefore, they will spend more time in the sea collecting more sponges.
Hence, when the news broke about a city in the New Continent with a blossoming sponge industry, it made sense that some Greek settlers came to town to bring their expertise and work there for years to come. Consequently, they got very well established in Tarpon Springs not only bringing the sponge expertise but also a Greek culture in town. As of now, Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage of Greek-Americans in the US, and that it is clearly reflected in its surrounding and in its daily activities. you can even hear people speak Greek in the streets.
Today, visitors can truly enjoy the Greece of Florida, Tarpon Springs also known as the “Sponge Capital of the World” and savor the Greek culture and the Greek cuisine without traveling far away! Opa!
Among the top things to do in Tarpon Springs are
- The Waterfront Sponge Docks and Saint Nicholas Sponge Diving Trip: This is the focal point of the city where the boats disembark the sponges. Visitors can take a trip in the Saint Nicholas boat (Mediterranean style) the trip last 30 minutes and it will venture into the Gulf’s coast for a vivid demonstration, you will see a sponge diver dive into the sea with an authentic “skafandro” the old rub diving suit, the helmet, breast metal, boots and the tools to hunt sponges. It’s a live demonstration of a Greek practice!
- A Walk in Downtown Tarpon Springs and Spongeorama museum: Just take a promenade in the downtown Tarpon Springs and you can immediately sense the Greek ambiance! The market is painted in white and blue! Just like in the Greek Islands with Greek music! The main street is full of murals, business and restaurants! The Spongeorama provides information about the history of the city and the sponge industry. It’s a great start to immerse yourself in the city. Also, it is the world largest selection of sponges! Here you can find some Greek gifts and sponges of course!
- Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral: Founded in 1900’s, it is a real Greek Orthodox Parish with a Neo-Byzantine style, a center dome, stained glass windows and made of marble brought from Greece. Clearly it pays homage to the city’s Greek heritage and it plays a key role in the religion life’s of the Tarpon Spring inhabitants.
- The Spring Bayou next to Craig Park and the Tarpong Spring Heritage Museum: Every year on January 6, the Greek Orthodox religion celebrates the Epiphany which commemorates the baptism of Christ. Basically, young men under 18 years old dive in the water in the Bayou to search for a cross. Whoever finds the cross is believed to have an outstanding and blessed year. On a usual day, visitors can take a walk around the Bayou and it’s not unusual to see Manatees in the water. Just a few steps away, you can find the Heritage Museum where the history of Tarpon Spring is very well represented.
- Sunset Beach: A visit to Tarpon Spring can be completed without a visit to the beach. The name of the beach definitively pays tribute to the beautiful sunset that can be observed. It’s a must go.
- Victorians Home, Historical Safford House: Built in 1883 by the Anson Safford family exemplified the “Victorian architecture style” while showing the splendor of Tarpon Springs during the early settlement.
Places to eat: Dimitris on the water, Hellas, and Mykonos. You can expect to savor authentic Greek food such as Spanakopita, Greek Salad, Mousaka and the list goes on…!
