The word “Poros” in ancient Greek means a small sea passage. Nothing could describe better the island of Poros, since the closest distance between the island and the coast of the Peloponnese is 200 m. So, Poros is the island that is separated from the Peloponnese by a small strip of sea.

The island was also mentioned in ancient texts as “Erini”, which means peace in Greek, probably because there was peace after the Dorian invasion and the fall of the Mycenian dominance.

In the northeastern part of the island, in a location called “Kavos Vasili”, the archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a settlement of the Early Bronze Period. This settlement is the oldest of the wider area of Trizinia, Peloponnese, and is believed to be interrelated with the wreck found on the nearby Dokos island which dates to the same period. 

Poros was divided in two islands during the antiquity: the one was called Sfairia and is the part of the island where today is located the island’s capital; the other was called Kalavria and is the bigger part of Poros at the north of Poros Town.

During the Mycenaean dominance (1,400-1,100 B.C.) Kalavria was quite powerful as the most important naval base of the wider region was located on islet Monti or Liontari in the eastern coast of Poros.

In the 7th century B.C., it is believed that Kalavria was part of an “amphictyonia”; that is an alliance between multiple City-states. The amphictyonia was named “Amphictionia of Kalavria” and its members were Athens, Poros, Aegina, Epidaurus, Hermione, Trizina, Nafplio, Orchomenos and Prasies.

During the 5th century, the Persians started attacking the Greek territories along with the Aegean islands. With the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, which also affected the islands of the Argosaronic Gulf, Trizina and Kalavria offered asylum to the anti-Macedonian politician who eventually became the tyrant of the region.

After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C., the Ptolemies of Egypt occupied Kalavria. Around that time, the famous orator Demosthenes came to the island and some say that this is the place where he committed suicide.
In 273 B.C., the last explosion of the Methana volcano dramatically changed the morphology of Poros and the wider region.

During the Roman period (86 B.C. to 395 A.D.) Poros was part of the Roman Empire along with Trizina, to which it was a tributary.
In the Byzantine Times, the pirates that dominated the Aegean Sea attacked the island multiple times.

In 1484 the Venetians occupied Poros and used it as a strategic port against their sea battles with the Ottomans. Poros was the most powerful city of the wider area, to which belonged (and also was managed by headquarters in Poros) Methana Island, Epidaurus, Damalas (Trizina), Fanari and Valario. During that time, the island had about 15,000 inhabitants, which means that it was one of the largest cities in Greece. The Venetian dominance ended in 1715.

The Ottoman Period began in 1715, much later in Poros than in the rest of Greece. Shipping and commerce were the inhabitants’ main activities, but Poros’ fleet wasn’t as famous as Hydra’s or Spetses’ fleet, due to the fact that it did not participate in many sea battles.

Poros had a very important role during the Greek Revolution in 1821, due to its strategic geographical position. The most glorious Greek personalities, who led the people that fought for their liberty, often met in Poros in order to discuss and plan their future actions. The first Greek warship Naval Base was established in Poros in 1828 and remained there until 1878. In September 1828, the ambassadors of England, France and Russia met in Poros with Ioannis Kapodistrias in order to determine the borders of the future Greek State, which was established two years later, in 1830.

In the beginning of the 20th century, among the activities of the Poros’ inhabitants are agriculture (mainly wheat, grapevines and olives), livestock, fishing and shipping.

After the 1950s tourism gets in the picture and in the following decades Poros attracts many travelers coming from Athens. Today Poros is a top touristic destination in Greece and certainly among the best ones near Athens. It offers many and diverse accommodation choices, gorgeous beaches, picturesque villages and a unique cosmopolitan flair of another era.

Poros is composed of two smaller islands, connected via a canal: Kalavria and Sfairia. Sfairia owes its name to the fact that Sfairos, the son of Hermes and the charioteer of Pelops, also called Killas, was buried in this little island.

Pelops was the king of Achaia and is widely considered as the founder of the Olympic Games. Sfairos helped Pelops win the chariot race against Oinomaos, the king of Pisa, and so Pelops married the king’s daughter Ippodamia and later became the king of Pisa himself. However, according to the myth, Pelops killed Sfairos either right after the race, or when he tried to kiss Ippodamia, or because Ippodamia fell in love with Sfairos and when he turned her down, she lied to Pelops and accused Sfairos of rape. Visitors of the temple of Zeus in Olympia can admire Sfairos in the east pediment of the temple of Zeus at Olympia.

According to the myth, the famous Athenian hero Theseus who was Poseidon’s son and killed the notorious Minotaur, was born in Poros. Poros is believed to have been the island of Poseidon, a fact also supported by the finding of a glorious ancient temple devoted to Poseidon.

Skyla was the daughter of Nisos, the king of Megara island, who owed his strength to a lock of purple hair on his head. When Minos, the king of Crete, was trying to conquer Megara, Skyla fell in love with him and cut her father’s lock of purple hair. As a result, Nisos died and Megara was occupied by the Cretans. However, Minos decided he did not love Skyla and left Megara and got on the ship in order to return to Crete. Skyla swam and followed the Cretan ships until she was exhausted and died in the sea, in the place which is today called “Cape Skyllaio” or “Cape Skyli” in Poros.

Poros is an island very close to Athens and to the Peloponnese, which means that apart from its own attractions and monuments, its visitors can take the opportunity to admire sights and beauties of the regions close to it. The island itself has a long history and many interesting places to visit.

There are several chapels and churches all around Poros, but the most interesting among them are the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi and the Metropolitan Temple of Saint George. The Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, built in the 18th century, is certainly worth a visit. Situated at about 4 km. from Poros Town amongst pines and plane trees, this serene monastery of minimal architecture hosts the graves of the famous Greek captains Tobazis, N. Apostolis and An. Miaoulis.

Moreover, travelers should visit the magnificent Metropolitan Temple of Saint George, a basilica with an elevated middle aisle and an imposing dome of fifteen meters. The temple was built before 1850, but was restored in 1861. The amazing frescos in the church interior were painted by the famous Greek painter K. Parthenis in 1907.

The Archaeological Museum of Poros is located in the center of Poros Town at Korizi square. The Museum houses statues, ancient coins, objects of the ancient everyday life and important symbols like, for example, a cupreous trident of god Poseidon.  It is open to the public 6 days a week (except Sundays) from 9.00 a.m. to 15.00p.m.

The Folklore Museum of Poros is a “young” museum inaugurated in July 2007 thanks to the initiative of the Women Cultural Association of Poros. The Museum aims to maintain and transmit to the next generation the customs, tradition and cultural heritage of Poros. Visitors may admire an interesting collection of rural tools, household utensils, everyday life objects, embroidery, folk house furniture, weaving and needlework of all kinds, uniforms, costumes, and photos. The Museum houses different teams involved in weaving and handcrafts, folk dances and music, fairytales and traditional desserts and drinks.

The Municipal Library is definitely worth a visit, with more than 8,500 titles of books and more than 200 DVDs. It is open to the public every day in the morning (9:00-13:00) and in the afternoon (18:00-21:00).

Poros Town is considered as one of the most picturesque and beautiful island capitals in Greece. In its center, the dominant element is the big Clock, which was built in 1927. The Clock is visible from every part of the island, being therefore the hallmark of Poros. The view from the top of the hill where the Clock is situated is just amazing.  In addition, while walking around the streets of Poros visitors can admire beautiful traditional island houses, mansions and picturesque narrow streets.

In the northeastern part of Poros, on the top of a hill with an amazing view to the island of Aegina, the ruins of an ancient temple devoted to god Poseidon are located. This temple was built around 520 B.C. and it was a temple of Doric rhythm. Its main characteristics were a big pelvis and multiple arcades, and it is considered as one of the most glorious ancient temples in Greece. Near the temple there was the ancient settlement of Kalavria.

Another renowned site with historic interest in Poros Island is the Russian Bay, where the ruins of the Russian Dockyard are found. This building was constructed by the Russian Navy and was used as a supply center for the Russian ships that were helping Greece in the effort to liberate from the Turks. The building’s interesting architecture combined with the unsurpassed natural beauty of the beach explains why this is a top destination for travelers in Poros.

There are several other places to visit very close to Poros, situated in the other islands of the Saronic Gulf and in the Peloponnese. Among them, the closest to Poros, is the famous “Lemonodasos” in Galatas, meaning “forests of lemon trees in Greek”. This is only 5 minutes by boat from Poros’ port and has been declared a protected area by the Europan Union. Other interesting destinations include Epidavros, Trizina-Devil Bridge and Ancient Mycines in the Peloponnese, and of course the islands of Aegina, Hydra, Spetses and Methana.

CLIMATE
The climate in Poros is Mediterranean, which means that the winters are mild and the summers are hot with plenty of sunshine. Snow is of course very rare. The average temperature in winter is 12.2°C, while during summertime it is 27.3°C. It is worth noting that the temperature in Poros during the summer is usually at most 30°C, which is lower than the temperature in other places in Greece. Also, the fall is much hotter than the spring and this is why many travelers choose this period in order to visit the island. The winds in Poros are usually north and are a few weaker than in other Aegean islands.

TELEPHONE
The national prefix for Greece is +30 if you are calling from abroad.  All numbers in the capital Athens start with the prefix 210 and are followed by 8 digits (e.g. 210-3227400).

The Area Code for Poros is: +30 22980. If you wish to call abroad, you have to start by dialing the other country’s national prefix (i.e. 0049 for Germany, 0044 for England etc.) and continue with the area code and the number where you wish to call.

CURRENCY
Euro €
Euro Coins: 1 and 2 euro coins (gold and silver color), 10, 20 and 50 cents (gold color) 1, 2 and 5 cents (copper color)
1 euro = 100 cents / centimes.
Euro Bank Notes: Are available in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. It is not always easy to receive change for 200 and 500 Euro Notes.

BY AIR
Poros does not have an airport, but it is very close to Athens by boat, so international travelers may use the Athens International Airport and then arrive to Poros by sea from Piraeus or by car through Galatas, Peloponnese.

BY BOAT
Poros is connected to Piraeus by ferry boat and flying dolphin/catamaran. The trip by ferry boat lasts 2.5 hours, by flying dolphin 1 hour and by catamaran 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Moreover, the island is connected with ferry boat to Galatas every 30 minutes and the trip lasts about 5 minutes. Individual boat owners also transport passengers 24 hours day to and from Galatas.

Piraeus Port: tel. +30 210 4199000, +30 210 4124585

For information on ports and schedules, visit the following links:
Hellenic Seaways: www.hellenicseaways.gr

BY CAR/KTEL
Travelers may arrive to Galatas by their own car, by taxi or by KTEL. The KTEL to Galatas departs from the “Peloponnese Station” in the center of Athens every afternoon. The trip lasts about 2 hours.

For information:
Peloponnese Bus Station, Tel.: +30 210 5124910-2
Galatas Bus Station, Tel.: +30 2298042480

LOCAL BUSES
Local transportation is well organized and covers a large part of the island, especially during summer. The local buses depart every 30 minutes from the central square of Poros Town and connect it with Perlia, Mikro Neorio, Megalo Neorio, Love Bay, Russian Bay, Kanali, Askeli and Monastiri.

TAXI SERVICE
Taxis are both available on the island and at Galatas.
Poros Taxi Services: Tel.: +30 2298023003
Galatas Taxi Services: Tel.: +30 2298042888

WATER TAXI
There are plenty of water taxis at Poros which are available on the waterfront in the central square of the island. Water taxis transfer passengers to Galatas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

BOAT
Boats are also available on the waterfront in the central square of Poros. Visitors can choose between organized tours to beaches like Mikro Neorio, Megalo Neorio, Askeli, and Monastiri, or come to an agreement with the boat owner for a specific individual itinerary. Daily excursions are organized to beautiful beaches and also to interesting destinations close to the island, like Hydra, Methana and the coasts of the Peloponnese. These excursions are organized upon request and travelers should seek information in local travel agencies.

BANKS & ATMs
The following banks have branches and ATMs in Poros:
AGRICULTURAL BANK OF GREECE: 39 G. & K. Kostelenou Str., Poros, Tel.: +30 2298022237
ALPHA BANK: Iroon Square., Poros, Tel.: +30 2298025923
BANK OF GREECE: Pounta, Poros, Tel.: +30 2281082625
EMPORIKI BANK: 50 D.Douzina Str. & Iroon Square, Poros, Tel.: +30 2298027000
NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE: G. & K. Kostelenou Str., Poros, Tel.: +30 2298022236

Eurobank has only an ATM, which is situated in a shop (34-36 G. & K. Kostelenou Street, Poros) and its use is restricted to money withdrawals.

MONEY EXCHANGE
Money can be exchanged in the bank branches listed above.

POST OFFICE
The Greek post office is called ELTA and you can find the main post offices of the island in Hora where there is also a branch of the Hellenic Post Bank. Post Boxes in Greece are YELLOW for normal post, usually with 2 slots for INTERNAL POST (meaning inside Greece) and post for ABROAD. RED Post Boxes are rarer and they are used for URGENT mail. You shouldn’t expect to find such boxes in the island. REGISTERED mail is always handled and given a receipt for at the POST OFFICE.

The Post Office in Poros is located in Poros Town.
Poros Post Office: 1 Tobazi Str. Tel.: +30 22980 22275

POLICE STATION
Poros Police Station: Tel.: +30 2298022462, +30 2298022256

MUNICIPALITY OF POROS
The Municipality of Poros is located in the center of Poros Town and has a well-organized website.
Website: www.poros.com.gr
Tel.: +30 22980 23089, +30 22980 22220

• Radio Taxi: +30 22980 23003
• Poros Port Authority: +30 2298022274, +30 2298022224
• Hellenic National Meteorological service: +30 2109699101-3
• Elpa (Car breakdown tourist information service): 174
• Emergency Numbers
• Police: 100
• Fire Department: 199
• Ambulance: 166

HEALTH
Galatas Health Center: Galatas, Poros Trizoinias, tel. +30 22980 42222, +30 22980 43333
Poros Municipal Medical Center: Poros , tel. +30 22980 22600
Hellenic Navy Medical Center: +30 22980 22526

PHARMACY
There are 3 pharmacies in Poros, all located in Poros Town.

Drougas Nikos, Tel.: +30 22980 29117
Kostelenou Evaggelia, Tel.: +30 22980 25523
Roidis Demetrios, Karamanou Square, Tel.: +30 22980 24793

Poros is an island and as such, the majority of its local dishes concern fish and seafood. However, there are also some recipes that will surprise visitors, like the chicken and pasta combination which resembles a Chinese dish.

For this recipe, pasta is boiled in the same water where the lobsters/shrimps were boiled. The lobsters/shrimps are sautéed in a pan after being boiled, with onions, garlic, tomato, salt and pepper. Once they are done, the lobsters/shrimps and pasta are mixed. The result is an amazing Greek dish famous all over the world.

This amazing recipe is basically made of anchovy marinated in vinegar for at least 12 hours. Other ingredients include oregano, pepper, olive oil, salt and garlic. The anchovy is raw and therefore it must be consumed the next day. This dish is used as an appetizer and is accompanied by ouzo or raki.

This is a variation of the traditional “al pesto” recipe, which includes octopus. In Poros this dish can be found in many taverns and it will pleasantly surprise visitors.

This wonderful dish is made with chopped chicken leg, pasta (preferably spaghetti), cabbage, red, yellow and green peppers, celery, carrots, pumpkins, mushrooms and fresh onions. The dish is accompanied by a sweet sauce made of red wine, vinegar, soya sauce, honey, salt, paprika and garlic, and strongly reminds Chinese dishes.

These are delicious candies made of almond, rose water and sugar/caster sugar. They have a long tradition in Poros and visitors should definitely taste them and take some home with them, as they do not need to be preserved in a refrigerator.

On the island of Poros an extra virgin olive oil of high quality is produced, which visitors can taste while eating in local taverns and restaurants. Its fine texture and unique taste make it stand out among other Greek olive oils while its nutritional value is very high.

Poros is a paradise for those looking for organic cosmetics made of biologic natural products like olive oil and local herbs. Those cosmetic products made in Poros include soap bars and liquid soaps, hand creams, moisturizers, beauty masks, shampoos, hair conditioners, anti-aging facial creams and sun protection/after sun products.

Nature has been very generous with Poros and a plethora of herbs and aromatic plants can be found on the island, used in the production of different kinds of essential oils. Local producers have specialized in the “art” of aromatherapy and their products are exported all over the world and sold in hotels and hair salons, as well as consumer outlets.

The traditional way of producing fabrics and linen is maintained on the island of Poros. Visitors may find wonderful, high quality towels, tablecloths, sheets and pillow cases, curtains, etc., with beautiful designs and may even request a specific design which will be crafted especially for them.

The majority of trees in Poros are either pine trees or citrus trees. The island is famous for its lemons, oranges and mandarins, whereas the Poros’ clementines are famous for their unique aroma. This fruit are also used in the production of liqueurs, which are certainly worth buying.

Wine on Poros is mainly produced in the area of Fousa and it is called “Fousaitiko”. This is a red wine with a strong and sweet taste. Local production is not enough in order to easily find this wonderful wine, so the lucky ones that will stumble upon it should definitely try it.

There are various interesting events organized in Poros either on a permanent basis, or as ad-hoc events in a specific time period.

The festival began in 2009 and attracts pianists from all over the world ever since. This remarkable musical event aims to help young pianists present their talent to the public. The festival is accompanied by a “Piano Academy”, which includes lessons, seminars and workshops on playing the piano. The festival usually takes place in the second half of August.

The Nautical Week is among the most famous events on the island and it is held every two years in the first ten days of July.  Although the main festivities of the event end after July 10th, complementary happenings take place during July and August, especially in the weekends. The Nautical Week includes a Navy Exhibition as its main event, whereas sports activities, concerts, artistic events, and many more continue till the end of August.

The Hellenic Navy Swearing Ceremony which is held every two months, is really impressive and includes a parade and a demonstration.

On June 24, on the day of the celebration of Saint John, the custom of “Klidonas” revives with men, women and youngsters jumping above fires lit on the streets.

Some religious feasts are held in Poros, which include traditional dishes, drinking and dancing. Among them, the feast of Saint Paraskevi in Vagionia, on July 25, is worth attending, since the little church of Saint Paraskevi is very picturesque and dancing, singing and eating last all night long!

Another interesting feast is the one of Panagia Eleousa in Plaka, which is located next to Galatas on the Peloponnese. This feast is held every year on June 4th and little boats transfer visitors from Poros to Plaka, where outdoor vendors, food and music can be found. What is really impressive is the return of visitors to Poros in the night, with the lights of the boats sparkling in the dark.

Last but not least, the museums and galleries of Poros organize interesting events, including art exhibitions, concerts, conferences, etc., on which visitors may be informed via the Municipality of Poros.

Poros is a gorgeous picturesque island, with traditional insular houses and beautiful mansions. Visitors should not miss to walk around the streets of Poros Town. So, it would be wise to bring flat/athletic shoes with them.

In addition, visitors should be aware that the temperature in Poros is slightly lower than in other islands and usually is below 30°Ceven in the summer. So, a light jacket is always useful. However, the sun is strong and hats, sun blocks and umbrellas are required.

Finally, Poros is so close to Athens, the Peloponnese and other islands of the Saronic Gulf that it can be combined with a vacation in one of the aforementioned places. It is very easily accessible and it is a highly recommended destination for international travelers visiting Athens.

Poros has many paths among pine trees and it is the ideal destination for nature lovers! Hiking and mountain biking are sports activities which are organized on the island and visitors should not miss the opportunity of admiring a marvelous view from the top of hills while exercising.

Poros is the absolute paradise of water sports’ fans, such as water ski, jet-ski, jump, trick skiing, wakeboarding and windsurfing are available on the island’s beaches. Also, given that the sea bottom of Poros is amazing and divers may expect to discover a colorful underwater world, scuba diving is one of the hottest watersports for one to practice on the island. A diving school is situated in Askeli, and apart from diving lessons, it also organizes diving excursions.

Whether interested in a romantic horseback ride or in discovering the undeniable natural beauties of the island, Poros visitors should try this unique sport. There are specific horseback riding tours around the island, which can also be combined with a picnic. For more information you can visit www.dontashorsestours.gr

The Training Center of the Hellenic Navy is situated in Poros. The Swearing Ceremony of the Hellenic Navy Training Center is held once every two months and it is open to the public. This is a really impressive ceremony which includes a parade and a demonstration, which will be more than pleasant for the island’s visitors.

The majority of shops are located in Poros Town. We suggest below a few of them that really worth visiting!

Art objects/Galleries

Ergani”
A gallery with embroideries, handmade art objectsand a laboratory organizing various seminars.
Poros Town
Tel.: +30 2298026030.

Citronne Gallery
This is an art gallery hosting the work of different artists, mainly in the high season. It is housed in a beautiful mansion in Poros Town.
Poros Town
Tel.: +30 22980 22401
www.citronne.com