Poros
Poros
Πόρος | |
---|---|
UTC+3 (EEST) | |
Postal code | 180 20 |
Area code(s) | 22980 |
Vehicle registration | YI, YK, YM, YN |
Website | www.poros.gr |
Poros (Greek: Πόρος; Modern Greek pronunciation: [ˈporos]) is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, about 58 km (36 miles; 31 nautical miles) south of the port of Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200 m (656 ft) wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas on the mainland across the strait. Its surface area is about 31 square kilometres (12 sq mi) and it has 3,261 inhabitants (2021). The ancient name of Poros was Pogon. Like other ports in the Saronic, it is a popular weekend destination for Athenian travellers.
Poros consists of two islands: Sphaeria (Greek: Σφαιρία, pronounced [sfeˈria]), the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today's city is located, and Kalaureia (Greek: Καλαυρία, [kalavˈria]), also Kalavria or Calauria (meaning 'gentle breeze'), the northern and largest part. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow strait.
Poros is an island with rich vegetation. Much of the northern and far eastern/western sides of the island are bushy, whereas large areas of old pine forest are found in the south and center of the island. It has a good road network and adequate tourist infrastructure, which makes it a popular resort for short holidays.
Geography
The land area of the municipality is 49.582 square kilometres (19.144 sq mi).[2] This includes the islands and part of the adjacent Peloponnese coast, adjacent to Galatas, Thermisia and the island of Hydra.[3] The landscape is very hilly and mountainous. The highest peak is the Vigla (358 m) in the west-central part. Following the island's topography and geology, small creeks and seasonal streams flow through steep valleys of the southern and northeastern part. The western and northern part of the island feature smooth hills and shallow valleys. Sandy beaches are restricted to the southern shore of the island, except for a bay in the northern part called Vayionia.
Poros contains the main village Poros and the smaller villages Ágios Nektários and Kyaní Aktí.
Geology
The geology of the island comprises
Limestone from Poros, an example of the poros stone, was an important component in the construction of Mycenaean tholos tombs in the Late Bronze Age, being used particularly for monuments at Mycenae, including the Tomb of Aegisthus.[4]
History
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 Age. 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.
Antiquity
Poros was divided into two islands during antiquity: Sphairia (also known by its modern Greek form Sfairia) and
During the 5th century, the
The Sanctuary of Poseidon has been excavated by Swedish archaeologists. The 1894 field season is considered to be the first Swedish archaeological campaign in Greece. Swedes have continued excavations from 1997 in collaboration with the Greek National Heritage Board.[5]
Roman and Byzantine times
During the Roman period (86 BC to 395 AD) Poros was part of the Roman Empire along with Trizina, to which it was a tributary. In Byzantine times, Poros and other islands were often raided by the pirates that dominated the Aegean Sea.
Venetian period
In 1484 the Venetians occupied Poros and used it as a strategic port in their sea battles with the Ottomans. Poros was the most powerful city of the wider area, also governing Methana Island, Epidaurus, Damalas (Trizina), Fanari and Valario. During that time, the island had about 15,000 inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in Greece. Arvanites were recorded among the inhabitants of the island in 1688. They lived in poverty as most of the Albanians in Greece at the time.[6] Venetian rule ended in 1715.
Ottoman period
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, and did not participate in many sea battles.[citation needed]
The Greek Revolution
Poros had an important role during the
With the
Twentieth century
In the beginning of the 20th century, among the activities of the Poros' inhabitants were agriculture (mainly wheat, grapevines and olives), livestock, fishing and shipping.[7]
Main sights
- The town of Poros, with its neoclassical edifices, is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of a hill. Its most famous landmark is a clock tower built in 1927.
- The Troizen, and from other archaeological sites nearby.
- In the northern part of the island are the remains of the Sanctuary of Poseidon, the centre of the Kalaureian amphictyony. The exact date it was built is not known, although researchers estimate it to have been around 520 BC. The dimensions of the temple, which is of the Antipatros.
- Poros was the site of the first naval base in modern Greece, established in 1827 during the Greek War of Independence. Most of the activities of Poros naval base were moved to Salamis Naval Base in 1881. The site is still used today by the Hellenic Navy as a training centre for naval personnel.
- Bourtzi castle. It was built by Hydra island and Capodistrias was the cause for heavy fighting here in 1831.[8]
- Poros Shell Museum. Founded in 2006, a permanent exhibition, Shells from the Greek Seas, is displayed at the Chatzopouleios Library. More info can be found on the webpage.
- The Holy Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, founded in 1720 AD, is located 4 km east of the main city of Poros island. It is built on the slope of a pine forest. In 1814, a group of monks from Mount Athos took refuge in this monastery. A few years later, these monks founded the Zoodochos Pigi Monastery at Longovarda on Paros. Katholiko is a basilica with a dome and a tower-like belfry being the main church of the monastery.
Historical population
Year | Town population | Municipality population |
---|---|---|
1981 | 3,929 | - |
1991 | 3,273 | 3,570 |
2001 | 4,059 | 4,282 |
2011 | 3,651 | 3,993 |
2021 | - | 3,261 |
Notable people
- Alexandros Koryzis (1885–1941), Prime Minister of Greece. A museum is Poros is dedicated to his life.
- Minos Kyriakou (born 1938), Greek billionaire businessman
- Henry Miller (1891–1980), American writer wrote about Poros in The Colossus of Maroussi: "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. The men and women of Poros are hanging out of the windows just above your head. You pull in right under their frosty nostrils, as though for a shave and a haircut en route. The loungers on the quay are walking with the same speed as the boat. They can walk faster than the boat if they choose to quicken their pace."
- Other prominent literary people have written about the beauty of Poros such as the Nobel laureate Giorgos Seferis, Kosmas Politis, Kostis Palamas, and Ιoulia Dragoumi.
Transportation
Poros is linked to mainland Greece by a car ferry to Galatas. Poros has no airport but is easily accessible from Athens by ferry or hydrofoil.[9]
There is local bus service on the island from Poros harbor to Neorio and Monastiri.[10]
A bike sharing system named Cyclopolis is also available, with one station and a capacity of 13 bikes. Users can register for a small fee and rent bikes for free for up to 3 hours per rental. [11]
See also
- List of volcanoes in Greece
- List of municipalities of Attica, including the Saronic
- List of islands of Greece
References
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Μόνιμου Πληθυσμού κατά δημοτική κοινότητα" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 21 April 2023.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
- ^ Map of the Kapodistrias municipalities
- ^
Galanakis, Yannis (2007). "The Construction of the Aegisthus Tholos Tomb at Mycenae and the 'Helladic Heresy'". S2CID 162590402.
- ^ Link text Berg, Ingrid (2016) Kalaureia 1894. A Cultural History of the First Swedish Excavation in Greece
- ^ International Journal of the Sociology of Language. Mouton. 1974. p. 66.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911
- ^ "Τεπελενι".
- ^ "Galatas (Poros - Hidra), Methana". KTEL Argolidas. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Transport". Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Poros Cyclipolis bike rental". Retrieved 25 August 2023.
External links
- Poros Island official website
- Kalaureia Archaeological Excavations
- Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. .