Ferry from Spetses to Poros

Spetses Guide

The Greek island of Spetses is one of the Saronic group of islands. Its ancient name was Pityonissos and Pityousa from the ancient Greek word for tree, "Pitys". The Venetians brought the name Spetses with them as they used to call the island "Isola di Spezzie" which means the island of aromas (spices). The largest town on the island is also called Spetses and is quite unusual in that private vehicles are not allowed within the town's boundary. As a result, people who live there or visit, have no choice but to walk or take a horse-drawn carriage. Motorcycles and bicycles are permitted.

The closest beaches to the town are Agios Mamas, in the centre of the town, and Kaiki beach which is around 1 km to the north west and Agia Marina which is 2 km to the south. For beaches further from the town, such as Zogeria, Agioi Anargiroi and Agia Paraskevi, there are public buses that can be taken.

In the Medieval times, the island flourished with trade and the locals constructed elegant mansions that survive to this day. Spetses is also a popular weekend destination due to its proximity to Athens.

Poros Guide

The town and port of Poros is located on the Greek island of Kefalonia and provides an important link, via its ferry service, between the island and mainland Greece. Many of the fishermen's houses that made up the town were destroyed by an earthquake in 1953 but with the aid of the British the town was rebuilt and is set in the beautiful scenery of the Atros and Pahni mountains and its coastline, which provides the town with its port and beaches. The ravine of Poros is a popular attraction and is an 80 m deep precipice, with steep slopes where you can see hollows in the rocks - which are supposedly the footprints of the mythological Hercules. The River Vohinas springs from a 'bottomless' lake, with is a dry bed river in the summer months but in winter it flows through the town.

Legend has it that the large rocks that are located just off the beach between Poros and Skala were thrown at early invaders by the Cyclops. The coastline on the other side of Poros, facing Ithaca, is one of the last refuges of the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal.