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Poros, Greece: Entering the straits of Poros one immediately sees the island’s beautiful town on one side and the coast of the Peloponese with the densely green Galata on the other side. It is from that particular strait through which ships pass that the island took its name, since Poros in Greek means “passage”. The island is located 32 nautical miles from Piraeus. It covers an area of 32 square kilometers, and has a population of approximately 4,000 inhabitants. The town of Poros is built amphitheatrically on the two rocky hills of a three-cornered islet called Sphaeria. Its houses, lacking any particular architectural plan, are piled on top of each other with colorful windows and facades, roofed with terracotta tiles. History: Poros in ancient times consisted of two islands: Sphaeria and Kalavria, divided by the sea. Today they are joined by a small cape. Kalavria is very fertile and full of olive trees. In contrast, Sphaeria is arid and rocky, formed by volcanic material. Poros has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but the prosperity of the island came when Ionians founded the sanctuary Poseidon that became the center of the Ionic amphictyonic league during the classical period. Poros followed the historical evolution of Greece and especially that of Athens and neighboring Troezen. Highlights: On the top of the first hill stands the beautiful clock tower, the trademark of the island built in 1910. The other major highlight is Poros’ waterfront, which is the center of life on the island. The famous orator Demosthenes, chased by his enemies, shut himself in the temple of Poseidon in Kalavria where he drank poison in 332 BC. The inhabitants of the island buried him in the courtyard and every year honored him.