The Waterways Art Gallery Dodecanese Boulevard Tarpon Springs Fl

Shop, dine and explore the metropolis'south colorful Greek community and history of sponge diving

The most magical small towns are those that successfully retain their original graphic symbol and civilization. Just an hour's drive northwest from downtown Tampa is 1 of central Florida's most colorful examples of this magic, Tarpon Springs.

With its rich Greek heritage, unique Greek Hamlet and Sponge Docks, celebrated attractions and a plethora of specialty shops and eateries, this small-scale coastal town is well worth a day trip.

Local sponge boat getting ready for its next journey — Photo courtesy of Skye Rodgers

How Tarpon Springs became Greek

First established in 1887 every bit a wintertime resort town, the focus soon shifted to harvesting the plentiful sponges that could exist found in the Gulf of Mexico. The industry grew quickly afterward entrepreneur John King Cheyney established the Anclote and Rock Island Springs Sponge Company.

Encouraged by a Greek sponge buyer named, John Cocoris, Cheyney started to introduce the cutting-border equipment and harvesting methods used by expert sponge divers in the Dodecanese Islands of Greece.

Word spread overseas quickly, and by 1905, the immigration of over 500 experienced Greek sponge divers and their families had begun. The Greek immigrants flourished and the sponge manufacture became the largest manufacture in Florida (fifty-fifty bigger than tourism or citrus), with Tarpon Springs becoming known as the "Sponge Capital of the World."

Today, this charming small town boasts the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the land, and the sponge industry is once once again dominating the earth's supply of natural sponges after rebounding from a blight that devastated the industry in the 1940s.

What to do

The Sponge Docks are the main attraction, so begin your day with a tour of its narrow lanes and whitewashed buildings. This quaint commercial area originally grew effectually the burgeoning sponge industry to service the boats and the crews that worked them.

Visitors can stroll Dodecanese Boulevard which faces the docks. Hither you tin watch the sponge, shrimp and other fishing boats getting set up for their next journey. Many of the boats, besides as the shops and restaurants that line the surrounding streets, are all the same endemic by descendants of the original Greek immigrants.

Ane of the many souvenir shops located on the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks — Photo courtesy of Skye Rodgers

All almost sponges

This is definitely the identify to larn near and shop for natural sponges, and in that location are more than a few shops dedicated to the sale of locally harvested sponges. In example you're non familiar, sponges are elementary multicellular animals known as Porifera that alive stuck to the flooring of the ocean.

Eco-friendly and sustainable, they are harvested by licensed divers who hand-cut the sponges, leaving a slice of the sponge which will regrow dorsum to its full size.

Get the background on sponges and how they are harvested at Spongeorama and The Sponge Factory, both located on Dodecanese Boulevard, where you can lookout man a free flick showing sponging history. Also be certain to bank check out the Sponge Exchange, as well on Dodecanese Boulevard.

In 1908, the Sponge Substitution was built to shop and sale the sponges. Today, there are still shops selling sponges aslope a selection of new boutiques, restaurants and bars.

For an even more in-depth agreement of sponges and the harvesting process, or merely to bout the local waterways and islands, jump on one of the local tour boats. Numerous kiosks are ready along the docks with a diverseness of trip options. Near the Sponge Exchange is the family unit-owned St. Nicholas Boat Line, i of the oldest tourist businesses on Florida's west coast, that offers one-half-hr cruises with a demonstration of traditional sponge diving.

Sponges for sale on the dock at Tarpon Springs — Photo courtesy of iStock / douglascraig

A brief sponge buying guide

Natural sponges are both decorative and useful for a wide variety of household and personal chores, being soft, durable and antibacterial. When shopping for sponges, be sure to read the signage carefully as not all the sponges are harvested locally and different sponge varieties accept different uses.

Below are sponge types that are ordinarily harvested from the Gulf of Mexico along with pop uses.

• Yellow sponge: A slightly firmer and coarser feeling sponge, this type is good for exfoliating bodies, likewise as household and fifty-fifty commercial cleaning applications.
• Caribbean Grass sponge: This is a softer version, skillful for both bathroom and household uses.
• Stone Island Sea Wool sponge: The softest local variety, the wool sponges are perfect for delicate applications including bodies, babies, cars and pets.
• Vase sponge: Found only on the Florida Gulf Coast, this is a decorative sponge that is not bad for arts and crafts.
• Finger sponge: This is also a primarily decorative sponge, used in arts and crafts and aquariums.

Where to consume

As you might expect, Greek and seafood restaurants dominate the Sponge Docks. If you get there early, you might desire to outset the 24-hour interval with coffee and a fresh, warm pastry from one of several bakeries in the Greek Village. Check out the blue and white Hellas Bakery and its vast display cases of sugary goodness including all your Greek favorites.

Lunch and dinner options abound for those with a taste for Greek specialties. Check out The Limani for authentic, coincidental fare with outdoor seating and a walk-upward window. For a more romantic repast with a water view, try Dimitri's on the Water, a family-owned restaurant featuring classic Greek-fashion steak and seafood dishes.

For seafood, the unanimous winner is Rusty Bellies, located at the very finish of Dodecanese Blvd. This local favorite gets fresh fish and shellfish daily and also has a seafood marketplace attached. The outdoor patio is perfect to enjoy the weather and at that place is a view out over the bayou.

Downtown Tarpon Springs — Photo courtesy of iStock / benedek

Other things to do...

Spring Bayou & Craig Park

After lunch, jump on the handy Jolley Trolley (which costs only $5 a day and runs hourly) to the Tarpon Avenue finish for a brusque stroll to enjoy the scenic Jump Bayou. Visit the Tarpon Springs Museum in Craig Park for further insights into the local Greek community including exhibits on daily life, organized religion, celebrations and, of grade, food.

Downtown

Next, trip on over to the Tarpon Springs downtown area, a charming celebrated shopping commune with an eclectic proliferation of antique and specialty stores. At that place are as well several museums and historic monuments to explore. Railroad train buffs volition enjoy a visit to the Tarpon Springs Historical Train Depot Museum.

Terminate the day on a high note past heading back to the Sponge Docks for a Greek dinner, or stay downtown and take dinner at Olive the Earth Bistro. Their menu features a variety of tapas and pasta-based dishes that gloat all varieties of olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.

If y'all're looking to go upscale, check out Currents for sophisticated décor and contemporary seafood cuisine.

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Source: https://www.10best.com/destinations/florida/tampa/tips/tarpon-springs-florida-greek-culture-sponge-capital-world/

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