The Museum was founded in 1991 by Mr. Philip Demertzis-Bouboulis, Bouboulina’s fourth generation descendant, in his effort to save the mansion from collapse. A non-profit making company manages all the Museum income, and has as its main objective the repair and maintenance of the building and its use as a museum and cultural centre, whilst at the same time recounting the story of the Greek War of Independence with emphasis on the life of the heroine Laskarina Bouboulina. A Mauritanian architect built the mansion of Bouboulina towards the end of the 17th century. The plan of the house from above is that of the Greek letter Π. This shape, in Spetsiot architecture, was related to the importance of its owner. Most of the Spetsiot lords of the time had houses of this shape. The mansion consists of a ground floor with two floors above. An external stone staircase connects the front yard with the first floor, where the museum is housed. Visiting areas on the first floor consist of four large rooms.
The Grand Salon
This is the most impressive room of the mansion, where War meetings took place between Bouboulina and the Spetsiot captains. There is no doubt that decisions of extreme historical importance were taken inside this room. The visitor will admire the hand carved Florentine ceiling and the mainly Italian and French furniture of the 18th and 19th century. There is a display of old firearms and swords and among them Bouboulina’s own gold plated pistol.
The Dining Room
In this room our attention is immediately drawn to the handmade wooden model of the Agamemnon. There is a collection of porcelain on display, mainly of English and Chinese origin. There are post-Byzantine icons including that of St. Nicholas, a truly beautiful icon that used to belong to Bouboulina herself. Rare books can be seen opened on the bookshelves.
The Hall
In this room a certain number of the heroine’s personal belongings are on display. In pride of place is a very large painting, a copy only though, of the famous oil painting of the heroine by the German master Peter Von Hess, showing Bouboulina commanding the bombardment of Nafplion.
The Fireplace Room
This was the everyday room of the mansion with furniture mainly from the 19th century. There are photographs of Bouboulina’s descendants and several objects of everyday use.Of special interest is the Venetian dowry trunk dated 1854, the French clock with Sevres porcelain, French miniatures, embroideries, maps and oil paintings. The partition between the last two rooms is the old mesandra – a wooden wall cupboard that was also used as a hiding place for arms and/or people.
