Poros Island
Poros—an ancient island once known as Kalaureia—was considered a sacred place dedicated to Poseidon, god of the sea.
Written sources confirm this, and the ruins of his temple at the heart of the island still stand as silent witnesses to its past. It was likely because of this sacred status that Poros was chosen as the center of an amphictyony—a religious and political alliance of Greek city-states—founded in the 7th century BCE and including seven neighboring and distant cities.
It was here, in the Temple of Poseidon, that the famous orator Demosthenes sought refuge from assassins sent by Antipater. He took poison on the sanctuary grounds and died, and the people of Kalaureia buried him within the temple precinct. A monument was erected in his honor, which was later described by the traveler Pausanias.
During the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Poros became a key naval base for the revolutionaries.
After Greece gained independence in 1830, the island was chosen as the country’s first official naval base.
Modern-day Poros is a delightful destination, blessed with a varied landscape and rich natural life. Visitors will find pine forests and endless lemon groves, which have become symbols of the island.
The island’s capital—where cruise ships dock—invites leisurely walks through neoclassical streets, along a lively harborfront, and up to panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Saronic Gulf.
