Discover Poros

The Capital of Poros 

The Town of Poros is the capital and harbour of the island located on the southern side of Poros. It is a beautiful town with a traditional character embellished with neoclassical mansions, traditional houses and the cobblestone streets. The whitewashed narrow streets of Poros give an aura of simplicity to the area decorated with fuchsia and orange bougainvillea. The imposing bell tower of the town dominates the whole area; one can enjoy astonishing views from there! Wander around the seaside promenade of the town and enjoy a coffee in the shops under the sun of the Aegean.

The Beach of Love Bay

The Bay of Love is one of the most beautiful beaches of Poros. It is a beautiful pebbled bay with turquoise waters surrounded from lush vegetation of pine trees. The beach is well organized and it is accessible from the bus from the town of Poros. In the same area, there is the camping site of the island.

The Castle of Boutzi 

The Castle of Boutzi is located on the homonymous isle opposite the town of Poros. The castle was built from the Bavarian Carl Wilhelm von Evdek in 1826. It played an important role in the munity of Andreas Miaoulis in 1831 who managed to capture the fortress in order to control the artillery of the strait. Moreover, the castle was used from the Germans in the 1940s.

The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi 

The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi is the most important religious monument of Poros built in a verdant area four kilometres away from the town of Poros. The monastery was founded from the Archbishop of Athens Iakovos in 1720, who was suffering from an illness and he was cured miraculously after drinking from the holy water of the fountain of the monastery. In 1733, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Paisios the Second, recognised it as a monastery under the Patriarch’s jurisdiction giving a lot of privileges to the monastery. The monastery played an important role during the Greek Revolution in terms of financial and social assistance to the freedom fighters.

The Russian Naval Base 

The Russian Naval Base is a historical landmark with great architectural interest located in the region of Calabria. The dockyard is a historical symbol of the military cooperation between Greece and Russia during the 18^th and 19^th century as the Russian Naval Fleet entered the Aegean with the intention of assisting the country in the war with Turkey. The site has been declared as a historical monument for its important role during the Greek Revolution.

The Village of Galatas  

The Village of Galatas is the sister town of Poros located only a few hundred meters away from the town of Poros. Providing a magnificent view of Poros from the beautiful waterfront, Galatas is known for its rustic charm. Agriculture is a major industry of Galatas with people growing citrus fruits and olives. The most beautiful attraction of the area is the Lemon Forest, a large area with 30,000 lemons and orange trees that has been declared as a protected area of natural beauty from Unesco with panoramic views of the Saronic Gulf. Inside the forest, there are scattered taverns with delicious local delicacies. The village is connected with Poros with small taxi boats operating all day long.

The Russian Naval Base is a historical landmark with great architectural interest located in the region of Calabria. The dockyard is a historical symbol of the military cooperation between Greece and Russia during the 18^th and 19^th century as the Russian Naval Fleet entered the Aegean with the intention of assisting the country in the war with Turkey. The site has been declared as a historical monument for its important role during the Greek Revolution.

The Sanctuary of Poseidon is the most important archaeological site of Poros located on the northern part of the island. The site displays the remains of the temple of Apollo lying on the top of a hill with amazing views over the Saronic Gulf. It used to be the center of the Amphictyony of the Calabrians that served as a voluntary co-operative for dealing with religious and civic issues for ancient cities of Athens, Aegina, Epidaurus, Hermione, Prassies and Orchomenos. Today, the foundations of the sanctuary are the sole significant remains. Findings from the excavations of the temple are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Poros.

The Castle of Boutzi is located on the homonymous isle opposite the town of Poros. The castle was built from the Bavarian Carl Wilhelm von Evdek in 1826. It played an important role in the munity of Andreas Miaoulis in 1831 who managed to capture the fortress in order to control the artillery of the strait. Moreover, the castle was used from the Germans in the 1940s.

The Church of Agios Georgios is the cathedral of Poros located in in the old quarter of Kasteli in the town of Poros. The church was constructed in 1861. The imposing church houses an interesting collection of wall paintings from renowned painters of Greece including Parthenis.

The Chapel of Panagia Agia Zoni is one of the most beautiful chapels of Poros located on the central part of the island. The chapel has a beautiful cobblestone courtyard located between a ravine with trees and running waters. The traditional celebration of the chapel takes place in the church on June 2.

The Chapel of Panagitsa is a charming chapel located at the end of the beach of Askeli. It is one of the most beautiful chapels of Poros that offers panoramic views over the endless blue.

The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi is the most important religious monument of Poros built in a verdant area four kilometres away from the town of Poros. The monastery was founded from the Archbishop of Athens Iakovos in 1720, who was suffering from an illness and he was cured miraculously after drinking from the holy water of the fountain of the monastery. In 1733, the Patriarch of Constantinople, Paisios the Second, recognised it as a monastery under the Patriarch’s jurisdiction giving a lot of privileges to the monastery. The monastery played an important role during the Greek Revolution in terms of financial and social assistance to the freedom fighters.

The Archaeological Museum of Poros is located in the town of the island. Exhibits include artefacts from the excavations of the Temple of Poseidon, Ancient Trizinia and Agios Konstantinos of Methana that date back to the Mycenaean and Roman periods.

The Folklore Museum of Poros is located in the town of the island. Exhibits include objects from the cultural heritage of Poros including furniture, embroidery, rural tools, weaving and needlework of all kinds.

The Shell Museum of Poros  is housed in the Public Library of Harzopoulios. Exhibits include a permanent exhibition of a rich collection of marine life of Greece.

The Clock Tower of Poros is the landmark of the island built on the highest point of Poros. The clock tower offers with panoramic views of the surrounding areas. It should be mentioned that the clock tower is visible from every single point of Poros.

The Villa of Galini is one of the most imposing neoclassical buildings of the island. The elegant village was built from architect Anastasios Metaxas in the 19^th century. Renowned as the red house, Villa Galini hosted many writers and artists in Poros including Georgios Seferis, Henry Miller, Greta Garbo and James Merill. The building is located on a terrace between Kanali and Mikro Neorio.

The Lemon Forest of Galatas is located on the shores of the Peloponnese opposite the harbour of Poros. In May, the town of the island is engulfed from the beautiful scents of lemon blossoms. The dense lemon and orange trees create an ethereal beauty to the landscapes. Nestling between the verdant trees, you will find charming watermills and wonderful waterfalls. Travellers with bicycles can also visit the ancient temple of Trizina and the Nunnery of Zoodohos Pigi. There are taverns all around the Lemon Forest.

Poros town is the charming capital and harbour of the island located on the southern side of Poros. It is a beautiful town embellished from neoclassical mansions and traditional houses amongst the cobblestone streets. The whitewashed narrow streets of poros give an aura of simplicity to the area decorated with fuchsia and orange bougainvillea. The imposing bell tower of the town dominates the whole area; one can enjoy astonishing views from there! Wander around the seaside promenade of the town and enjoy a coffee in the shops under the sun rays of the Aegean.

Spot: Beach of Vagionia, North Poros

Spot: Clock Tower of Poros, South Poros

Spot: Russian Naval Base, West Poros

Spot: Temple of Poseidon, North Poros

Boat Trip: The Village of Galatas is the sister town of Poros located only a few hundred meters away from the town of Poros. Providing a magnificent view of Poros from the beautiful waterfront, Galatas is known for its rustic charm. Agriculture is a major industry of Galatas with people growing citrus fruits and olives. The most beautiful attraction of the area is the Lemon Forest, a large area with 30,000 lemons and orange trees that has been declared as a protected area of natural beauty from Unesco with panoramic views of the Saronic Gulf. Inside the forest, there are scattered taverns with delicious local delicacies. The village is connected with Poros with small taxi boats operating all day long.

Boat Trip: The Peninsula of Methana is one of the most famous spa towns of Greece. The landscape of volcanic peninsula of Methana emits a mysterious atmosphere that promises lots of thrills even to the most discerning travelers. With the passage of the narrow strip of land connecting the peninsula of Methana with the coastline of Peloponnese, another world appears in front of your eyes ready to be explored blessed from impressive volcanic sceneries. The charming image of the spa town is the first image you will encounter when you reach the volcanic peninsula. The verdant isle of Agioi Anargyroi, the light waters with the sulphur smell of Vromolimni and the renovated hydrotherapy centre have been maintained from the time that Methana was renowned for its thermal baths. The uniqueness of Methana starts from the magical volcanic landscapes accompanied from a mild climate that combines the sea with the mountain transforming this peninsula into a paradise. Methana is waiting for you to discover the hidden charming villages, the long history of the peninsula with its archaeological monuments and Byzantine churches of exceptional interest and the walking pathways reaching the volcanic crater of the imposing “sleeping” volcano.

Diving: The varied coastline of Poros offers numerous exciting explorations for diving enthusiasts. These include the sunken ancient city in Askeli beach and the shipwreck in Modi isle. One can find a diving center at the beach of Askeli.

Driving: Poros offers the opportunity to explore sceneries of natural beauty by driving. One of the most beautiful routes of the island starts from the Russian Naval Base and leads to the west side of the island. During this route, you will be impressed from the amazing view to the Strait of Poros and the beautiful seashores of Morias.

Horse riding: Poros offers invigorating experiences of riding a horse along the seashore. You can find the riding school in the area of Kyani Akti.

Sailing: Poros is a paradise for sailing enthusiasts. Sailing around the western side of the island is fully recommended. Ideal anchorage spots of the island include the southern side of the port of Poros. The bay of Monastiri is also an ideal mooring place for those looking for tranquillity and relaxation. Monastiri is suitable only for a brief stop, as the bay is quite deep. One of the most popular anchorages in the Saronic is the Russian Naval Base, else known as the bay of Daskalio, which is well protected from all winds. Love Bay is another well protected anchorage with emerald waters full of pine trees. However, it has little space for anchoring. Also, Megalo Neorio is a large bay full of vegetation found inside the protected canal of Poros.

Askeli is a sandy beach with crystal clear waters located on the northeast side of the harbour.  The beach is well organized with numerous amenities including sunbeds and umbrellas, a beach volley court, water sports amenities along with few bars and taverns.

Kanali is a sandy beach with emerald waters located after the beach of Poros. The beach is well organized and it is known for its delicious fish taverns with an open view to the sea.

Love Bay is a beautiful pebbled bay with turquoise waters surrounded from lush vegetation of pine trees. It is one of the most beautiful beaches of Poros. The beach is well organized and it is accessible from the bus from the town of Poros. In the same area, there is the camping site of the island.

Monastiri is a sandy beach with crystal clear waters surrounded from pine trees. The beach is known for its scenic beauty and it is well organized with sunbeds and umbrellas. The beach also offers water sport facilities. It is accessible by the bus or by taxi.

Mikro Neorio is a sandy beach with crystal clear waters surrounded from pine trees located on the northwest side of the town of Poros. It is one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. The beach is well organized with water sports facilities and taverns. It is accessible by the local bus.

Megalo Neorio is a long golden sandy beach with crystal clear waters. The beach offers water sports amenities and has taverns. It is accessible through a footpath from the beach of Mikro Neorio.

Russian Bay is a sandy beach with crystal clear waters located after the beach of Neorio. The beach is considered to be the most beautiful beach of the island home to the famous historical site of Poros.

Vagionia is a secluded sandy and pebbled beach with crystal clear waters located on the northern side if the island. Diving enthusiasts can explore the remnants of a sunken ancient town.

Coffee Corners

Cafe Cinema: Coffee, Poros Town

Porto: Coffee, Poros Town

Passagio : Coffee, Poros Town

Valente: Pastries, Pounda

Vessalas : Pastries, Pounda

Gastronomic Delights

Αpagio: Greek Cuisine, Pounta

Aspros Gatos: Greek Cuisine, Mikro Neorio

Dimitris: Greek Cuisine, Agios Georgios

Kipos: Greek Cuisine, Poros Town

Mourtzoukos: Greek Cuisine, Poros Town

Olga: Ouzo and Meze, Askeli

Platanos: Greek Cuisine, Agios Georgios

Poseidon: Seafood, Poros Town

Spiliada: Ouzo and Meze, Pounda

Theano: Greek Cuisine, Neorio

Cocktails Inspirations

Calypso: Cocktails and Drinks, Neorio

Malibu Cocktail: Cocktails and Drinks, Pounda

Maskes: Cocktails and Drinks, Pounda

Sail: Cocktails and Drinks, Pounda

The local products of the island include the almond sweets of amigdalota, olive oil, citrus fruits and wine.

The local specialties of the island include lobster pasta, spaghetti al pesto with octopus, anchovy with vinegar and chicken with pasta.

Every summer, numerous musical events take place in the Russian Naval Base.

Every two months, the Hellenic Navy Swearing Ceremony takes place in Poros.

Every May, the International Yachting Symposium, the official exhibition of certified yachts, takes place in Poros.

Every 4th of June, the traditional celebration in honour of Panagia Eleousa takes place in Plaka, which is located next to the village of Galatas on the Peloponnese, and visitors are transferred with small boats from the harbour of Poros.

Every 24th of June, the Klidonas Custom is revived in Poros, where men and women jumping above fires on the streets.

Every 25^th of July, the traditional celebration in honour of Agia Paraskevi takes place at the chapel of Agia Paraskevi.

Every second July, the Nautical Week takes place in Poros hosting a Navy Exhibition along with artistic events and sports activities.

Every August, the International Piano Festival of Poros takes place in Poros.

Mythology

According to mythology, Poros was the birthplace of a romantic tragedy involving the Cretan King Minos, who was fighting the city of Megara, the daughter of besieged city of Scylla, who fell in love with King Minos. She cut the keys to the city gates and a lock of the hair of her father, the source of his immortality, in order to show her love to him. However, King Minos rejected Scylla when he took the city and prepared to go back to Crete. Scylla jumped into the sea and followed the ships until she was drowned, and this area was named after her Cape Scyli.

History

The official name of Poros used to be Calabria and it was the center of Amphictyonic League that consisted from the ancient cities of Aegina, Athens, Epidaurus, Ermioni and Nayplion with the Temple of Poseidon being the religious centre. It was then renamed to Poros, as in Ancient Greek, Poros means a small sea passage and the islands’ longest distance from the coast of Peloponnese is 200 meters as it is separated from the mainland by a small strip of sea. The history of Poros is connected to the history of Ancient Trizina. The ancient name of Poros used to be Calabria and it was the center of Amphictyonic League consisted from the city-states of Aegina, Athens, Epidaurus, Hermioni, Nayplion and Orchomenos with the Temple of Poseidon being the religious centre. It was a nautical, religious and political confederation founded as a protection to the independence and trade of the Argives. During the Mycenaean period, Calabria was a powerful naval base of the wider region of Poros, which was located on Liontari islet. Throughout the 5th century, the Persians started attacking the territories of Greece along with the Greek islands. When the Peloponnesian War started, Calabria and Trizina offered refugee to the anti-Macedonian politician who ultimately became the tyrant of the island. Following the death of Alexander the Great, the Ptolemies of Egypt occupied Calabria, the time when Demosthenes, the orator, came to the island to suicide.  The morphology of Poros changed dramatically after the last explosion of the volcano of Methana in 273 BC. During the Roman dominance, Poros was under the rule of the Roman Empire followed by a series of pirate invasions in the Byzantine years. Thereafter, the Venetians occupied the island for its strategic geographical position for sea battles with the Ottomans, which showed they are undefeated in 1715 when they captured the island. When the Greek War of Independence started, Poros played an important role owing to its strategic geographical position whilst the first Greek Warship Naval Base was founded in Poros. Moreover, the ambassadors of France, England and Russia met in Poros with Ioannis Kapodistrias, with the intention of determining the borders of the New Greek State, which was established in 1830.

By Boat (30 Nautical Miles): Poros is accessible by boat from the harbour of Piraeus. The journey usually lasts from one hour to two hours and thirty minutes. Poros is also connected with the islands of Aegina, Hydra, Spetses and the peninsula of Methana. Book your tickets with Ferries-Booking.com!

By Car (175 Kilometres): Poros is accessible by car. The journey usually lasts two hours. Following the Attica Road and then the National Road of Athens- Corinth, you will go left after the Isthmus of Corinth towards Epidaurus (Exit B – Corinth – Epidaurus). After thirty minutes, you will reach the intersection of Epidaurus. Before getting there, you will see the signs to Poros and Spetses. At this junction, turn right and immediately make a left under the bridge. Then, follow the new road and turn left when you see the sign towards Poros and the village of Galatas through the coastal road. Ferryboats operate on a daily basis to the island of Poros.

Note: All the images are copyrighted from their owners. Please see Terms & Conditions. You can find the original images at the following links:

Daskalio Isle: Official Website of Poros

Devil’s Gorge: Skonix by Panoramio

Landscape: Kostas Mavrakis by Panoramio

Love Bay: Official Website of Poros

Neorio Beach: Giorgos Daglis by Panoramio

Poros Houses: Def23569 by Panoramio

Poros Town: Shutterstock

Russian Naval Base: Erling Als Nielsen by Panoramio

Sleeping Beauty: Dimitris Zaharopoulos by Skaikairos

Sunset: Lourantos by Panoramio

Temple of Poseidon: Giannis Korilis by Panoramio

View: Dimitris Zaharopoulos by Skaikairos