Liberated Galaxidi and flourishing merchant marine 1830 until beginning of 20th century
After repeated ravages during the War of Independence, the liberated people from Galaxidi returned to their burnt and ruined homes.
Hard workers and creative, the inhabitants are building their churches, schools and houses, organizing the town council, and sorting out their properties.
They set up shipyards in the two harbours and start up their naval and merchant activities again.
During the 1870’s the merchant marine reaches its peak, and Galaxidi becomes the second nautical centre in Greece, after Syros, with 100 class A and 250 class B sailing ships. Every year they launch 15-20 ships, most of them built in Galaxidi, that sail in the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and even across the Atlantic. The maritime community, then with six thousand inhabitants, develops architecturally into the town we know today.
With the arrival of steam-powered ships, Galaxidi, which did not adjust to the new technology, starts to decline at a rapid rate.
Petros D. Petratzas, “The harbour of Galaxidi”, oil, which depicts the arrival of King Otto in 1834. The German archaeologist, L. Ross, who accompanied the king, reports that after the visit to the church he went to the house of a shipowner. They say that it was the house of Captain Konstantis Dedousis, which can be seen on the right of the painting with the large Greek flag, and this is still standing today.