Tarpon Springs has never looked like a typical Florida community. A stroll along Dodecanese Boulevard tricks one's senses. The aroma of freshly baked Greek pastries and festive melodies fills the air. Fishermen, shopkeepers and others exchange greetings in Greek.
No need to double-check your passport. This is Florida, although one has the impression of strolling through a seaside Mediterranean village. Its unique Greek heritage separates Tarpon Springs from the other communities that make up St. Petersburg/Clearwater and, for that matter, the remainder of Florida. This special flavor is an outgrowth of one of the state's most fascinating, one-of-a-kind industries-sponge fishing.
In fact, the waterfront Sponge Docks are listed as a National Historic District, as is Tarpon Springs' downtown Main Street. |
