Póros

Chief place: Póros

The island of Póros, ancient Kalaureia, lies southwest of the Methana peninsula (Peloponnese), separated from the north coast of the Argolid by a strait between 250m/275yd and 1,000m/1,100yd wide, 1.5km/1mi long and up to 4m/13ft deep. Most of the island is covered by thin woodland and macchia. The inhabitants, many of whom are of Albanian descent, live by farming the fertile coastal areas on the mainland which belong to Póros and, increasingly, by the tourist trade.

In Mycenaean times there was a settlement on the site later occupied by the sanctuary of Poseidon. The ancient city was abandoned after the Roman period, and the modern town was established only in the late Middle Ages.

Regular boat service from and to Athens (Piraeus), 6-10 times daily (2.5 hours). Hydrofoil from Piraeus (Zéa), several times daily (65minutes). Regular shuttle service to Galatás, on the mainland. Local connections with Hydra/Spetsai, Aegina and the Methana peninsula. Day cruises from Páleo Fáliro to Hydra, Póros and Aegina.

Related Attractions

Poros Town (Khora), Greece

The island's capital, Póros is beautifully situated on ancient Sphairia, a promontory of volcanic origin on the south side of the island, linked with it by the narrow Bísti isthmus. In the 18th and 19th centuries this was the principal naval harbor on the southeast coast of Greece.

Sanctuary of Poseidon

Five km/3mi northeast of the town of Póros can be seen the scanty remains of the sanctuary of Poseidon (fifth century B.C. ), the center of the Kalaurian amphictyony (religious league) of the maritime cities on the Saronic and Argolic Gulfs. It was here that Demosthenes, fleeing from the henchmen of the Macedonian governor Antipatros, poisoned himself in 322 B.C. The numerous remains of buildings in the surrounding area suggest that this was the site of ancient Kalaureia.

There is a small archaeological museum here which contains the finds from the excavations.

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Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring

Four km/2.5mi east of Póros is the 18th century monastery of the Zoodókhos Piyí (the Life- Giving Spring).

Lemon Grove

On the mainland of Lemonodásos opposite the island of Póros lies the large lemon-grove of Lemonodásos (30,000 trees), which belongs to Póros.

Troizen - Damalás

Ten km/6 mi west of the Lemonodásos, at the village of Damalás, are the scanty remains of ancient Troizen, the setting of the legend of Hippolytos and Phaidra.