Formerly the center of a thriving sponge fishing industry, Tarpon Springs is primarily a Greek community and well known tourist destination. There are still sponge boats at the dock and others offering deep-sea fishing trips. The Mediterranean heritage is represented in the town's numerous restaurants and bakeries, cultural festivals and in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
In the old craft of brass rubbing, artisans transfer designs from brass engravings onto paper. The Medieval Brass Rubbing Centre museum has a collection of over 300 templates with a variety of designs from Europe and the Middle East.
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Religious paintings by George Inness Jr. are located at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The paintings are prime examples of his treatment of light and use of the green tones that were named after him.
Konger Coral Sea Aquarium is a 120,000 gallon tank with a simulated coral reef, native plants and tropical fish to illustrate life under the sea. Visitors can watch a moray eel feeding exhibit, view a tidal pool complete with sea creatures and participate in feeding small sharks and stingrays.
St Nicholas Boat Line offers narrated cruises through the historic sponge docks of Tarpon Springs. A diver in traditional diving gear provides a demonstration of sponge harvesting.
Modeled on the 6th century St Sophia Church in Constantinople, St. Nicholas Cathedral was built here in 1943 by the town's Greek Orthodox community. It is the site of an annual Epiphany ritual and home to the icon of St. Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, the poor and children. Many of the furnishings found in the cathedral are imported from Europe.
The dome of St Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs.
Address: St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 36 North Pinellas Avenue, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689, United States
Phone: 1 (727) 937-3540, Fax: 1 (727) 937-1739
Hours:
8am-4pm
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Tarpon Springs Aquarium has observation and holding tanks that recreate marine environments. There is a miniature coral reef, a predator tank, a tidal pool display and a touch tank with baby sand sharks and stingrays.
Hours:
10am-5pm; Sun:12pm-5pm
Always closed on: Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Parking: Free
Disability Access: Partial facilities for persons with disabilities.
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St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs, Clearwater
