Travels through History : The Peloponnese – The Island of Poros

This is an excerpt from my forthcoming book called Travels through History : The Peloponnese.

Poros is very close to the mainland, indeed at first glance, it appears to be part of the Peloponnese. This proximity means that visitors to Poros can catch the ferry across to Galatas on the mainland and visit some of the closer sights, such as Epidaurus and Tiryns, perhaps even Mycenae. The renowned lemon forest – the only one in Greece – at Galatas comprises hundreds of small orchards and is right opposite the port of Poros. 

Poros itself seems to be a yacht centre, where one set of yachts moor during the day, stay overnight, and then leave the following day, only to be replaced by others. This makes the cafes and restaurants opposite these moorings rather full at lunch and dinner, but you only have to walk a hundred yards to find wonderful restaurants to eat at. 

The hydrofoil pulls in right by the yacht moorings in the centre of the port, so I had a two-minute walk to my hotel. Once I had checked in, I set off to explore. The best place to get an orientation of the surrounding area is to climb up to the clock tower, slightly above the town, for views across the buildings and yacht masts to The Peloponnese opposite. There’s also a good view of the naval school with its magnificent sailing ship.

Poros is a good place to wander along by the seaside and do some souvenir shopping. There is an archaeological museum where most of the exhibits come from local digs on The Peloponnese including Troizena and Methana, where a ferry runs to from Poros. In the hall on the upper floor, are ceramic finds (vessels and figurines) from the area of ​​Troizena and Ermioni. Exhibits from the prehistoric period include findings from the Mycenaean vaulted tombs recently excavated in Magoula of Galata (vessels, figurines, jewellery, bronze weapons, and stone arrows). 

Among the pine trees in the middle of Poros are the ruins of a Doric temple dedicated to Poseidon, built in the 6th century BC out of blue limestone. There is also a connection with Demosthenes, the orator, who arrived here as a fugitive and ended his life by drinking hemlock.