Hydra, Greece Travel Guide: How Four Artists Vacation On Aegean Island

When New York-born and raised photographer Mirabelle Marden invited a handful of her closest friends, musician Diego Dueñas, Alia Raza of Régime des Fleurs and artist Olympia Scarry, to visit her at the retirement of her family in Hydra, Greece, this summer the response was unanimous: “We all said, ‘Let’s do it,'” recalls Raza, who, between a recent transatlantic move and the launch of her new care line skin, Topi Botanic, had long been an opportunity to unplug. “I travel a lot for my job, but it was a rare thing for me,” she continues. “A trip that was a real vacation. Fast forward to July, Dueñas, Raza, and Scarry gathered in Athens, where they dined at Asian fusion bistro Nolan and discovered old and new works of art (the Benaki Museum and Rebecca Camhi Gallery were notable. , says Raza). From there, they boarded the two-hour ferry to the Aegean island.

Upon arriving at the car-free city port, the trio of travelers were greeted by donkeys, who carried their personal effects (see-through silk caftans from Desert Vintage, in Raza’s case) to the house of Marden, a sun-drenched 18th-century house overlooking the Saronic Gulf on which his parents, painters Brice and Helen Marden, fell in the 1970s, a decade after Hydra became a destination for Leonard Cohen and the Rolling Stones . (These days, Phoebe Philo can be seen strolling through her crescent-shaped harbor.) The week of rest and relaxation that followed ended with a sunset sail and a blackout, which turned out to be the ultimate respite. “We walked through the city from the port and saw what the island looked like two hundred years before there was electricity,” Raza recalls. Their last meal, an alfresco dinner in the property’s jasmine-scented garden, was lit by candles. “It was a beautiful night last night.

Below, Raza takes Vogue inside his escape from Hydra, Greece (and perfectly stocked suitcase).

Alia Raza packing list

The Colossus of Maroussi

My version of a beach reading.

Ancient Greek Sandals Desmos Leather Sandals

I brought them in three colors.

$ 200

ANCIENT GREEK SANDALS

The Eres Pigment one-piece

A classic, in this beautiful color.

Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment

My go-to treatment for sensitive skin, especially after the sun and salt water.

Sarong Simrane

Irresistible prints. I also like their covers.

The Row Bourse leather clutch

It works anywhere and anytime.

Marysia Antibes bikini bottom

The most comfortable swimsuit I have ever worn.

Charvet Elysée nightdress

Perfect for the bed and doubles as a blanket after swimming.

Yvon Lambert Bookstore Tote

Maybe my favorite bag. Simple and very solid.

Murphy’s Mosquito Repellent

Even the Greek Islands have annoying insects.

Topi Botanical Sun Serum

It might have been overkill, but I used the serum I had developed from head to toe on the trip. It offers excellent antioxidant protection and strengthens your sunscreen.