POROS - THE BOSPORUS OF THE SARONIC

THE BOSPORUS OF THE SARONIC

“…I don’t know which affected me more deeply-the story of the lemon groves just opposite us or the sight of Poros itself when suddenly I realized we were sailing through the streets. If there is one dream, which I like above all others, it is that of sailing on land. Coming into Poros gives the illusion of the deep dream. Suddenly the land converges on all sides and the boat is squeezed into a narrow strait from which there is no egress…” Henry Miller, 1941 Declared as the Bosporus of the Saronic, due to the narrow strait that separates the island from the coast of the Peloponnese, Poros is an island with a unique morphologyowing to the volcanic eruption of Methana. 

Spheria lies on the crater of the volcano where the beautiful town of Poros unfolds while Calabria is sedimentary with a rugged clock tower dominating between the mountainous terrain surrounded from beautiful pine trees.

The beautiful town of Poros is perched on the hill with its historic colourful neoclassical buildings that give an aura of disparate beauty to the island. Indeed, Poros has managed to be kept for decades at the top of the most traditional settlements of the countr . Blessed with the finest of nature from verdant pine forests to idyllic beaches and drowned with traditional neighborhoods of another era, Poros is definitely a wonderful island! 

Glooming gardens and traditional houses, one glimpse of the sea before the alleys continue upwards and mysterious corners with hidden surprises. Oh! And do not forget to climb up to the clock tower… The view is just absolutely splendid!

BEST OF 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 18th and 19th 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.