Historically, Hydra was silent at the beginning of the 15^th Century. A few agricultural and pastoral families inhabited it. The beginning of intense settlement started from 1460. Albanian fugitives, who fought as ‘Stradioti’ at the Venetian side during the 16 year Venetian-Turkish war (1463 – 1479), settled in Hydra. Chased away by the Turk, Sultan Mohammed B the Conqueror and helpless to defend the Peloponnese which had already been conquered by the Ottomans, they found shelter at Hydra with its almost impregnable approach. This is the period when the Hydra of today started to evolve. The first settlement was at Kiafa Hill apparently for defensive purposes as it could be held against pirate attacks. Kiafa means ‘head’ or ‘top’ in the Albanian Language.