Poros consists of two islands: the rocky Sferia (Greek: Σφαιρία) where its charming little town is located, and triangular shaped Kalavria (Greek: Καλαυρία, meaning ‘the place of the good winds’) which is covered in lush vegetation.
According to Pausanias, Kalavria initially belonged to Apollo while Delphi was the sanctuary of the Sea God, Poseidon. The two gods decided to exchange their sanctuaries. The ruins of Poseidon’s temple – built in Doric style around 520 B.C. – are situated in Palatia, providing a strategic view over the Vagionia bay. The other significant sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon is at Cape Sounion (also in the Saronic Gulf).
It is noteworthy that three large sanctuaries in the Saronic area – the Temple of Athena Aphaia on the island of Aegina, the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, and Poros’ Poseidon sanctuary formed an isosceles triangle. Could this be a mere coincidence?
In 322 B.C., Demosthenes – the famous Athenian orator and statesman – had sought asylum in Poros, at the sanctuary, after fleeing the Macedonians who had invaded Athens. Rather than be captured, he took his own life by drinking poison. He was buried on the sanctuary’s grounds.
Near the Modi islet, a Mycenaean shipwreck from the 13-12th century B.C. has been identified. This is the second known example of a Late Bronze Age shipwreck found in the Greek seas. (The first one, Point Iria, was discovered on the southern coast of Argolis, in the Aegean Sea in 1962, when Nikos Tsouchlos located a shipwrecked cargo of clay vessels, 10 metres from the rocky shore.)
Poros is the only male-named island in Greece.
The word “Poros” is a geographical term, that means “passage” and refers to a small strip of sea joining two small bays. It makes sense because in antiquity Poros consisted of two islands, Sferia and Kalavria and they were separated by a thin line of sea. A small bridge has been built to connect these two parts.
The beautiful Russian Beach was named after the amphitheatrically built Russian Naval Base. Russia secured free supply shipping for its navy throughout the waters of the Ottoman Empire. Poros’ sheltered harbour served as a large storage facility as well as a large-scale bakery. After the Greek independence, Kapodistrias requisitioned the facilities for the Greek navy and offered another location for the Russians. In the early 20th century, the Russian Navy’s power started to wane, and the facilities were abandoned. Today the ruins provide a fascinating background to the lovely beach.
The island’s famous landmark is the blue clock tower built in 1927. It was a donation from Ioannis H. Papadopoulos, a member of Parliament representing Trizina. Over the years the tower got very battered, but luckily in 2000, it was extensively renovated. The clock mechanism was also repaired in 2015, and it can be seen in a glass case at the ground level of the tower.
Poros accommodated the first naval base in modern Greece, during the Greek War of Independence. Most activities were moved to Salamis in 1881, but the site is still used today as a training centre by the Hellenic Navy.
Just for fun, an extra fact:
Just like Nafplio, Poros also has a Bourtzi castle (small fortress on an islet). It was built around 1828. The islet was given to the Poros monastery around 1770.
