The Saronic Islands

The Saronic Islands

Satellite photo of the Saronic Islands

The Saronic Islands is an archipelago in Greece named after the Saronic Gulf where they are located near mainland Greece. The main Islands are Aegina, Agistri, Poros, Hydra and Spetses. Many Greeks have holiday homes in the Saronic Islands which are regularly served by ferries from Piraeus and the Peloponnese.

Aegina

Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, 17 miles (27 km) from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.

The island along with offshore islets is a part of the Attica region. The capital is the town of Aegina (pop. 7,410 in 2001 census), situated at the north western end of the island. Due to its proximity to Athens, it is a popular quick getaway during the summer months, with quite a few Athenians owning second houses on the island. Besides the town of Aegina, the largest other towns and villages on the island are Kypséli, Vathý, Mesagrós, Pérdika, Agía Marína, Vaïa, Álones, and Kontós.

An extinct volcano constitutes two thirds of Aegina. The northern and western side consist of stony but fertile plains, which are well cultivated and produce luxuriant crops of grain, with some cotton, vines, almonds, olives and figs, but the most characteristic crop of Aegina today (2000s) is pistachio. Economically, the sponge fisheries are of notable importance. The southern volcanic part of the island is rugged and mountainous, and largely barren. Its highest rise is the conical Mount Oros (531 m) in the south, and the Panhellenian ridge stretches northward with narrow fertile valleys on either side.

The beaches are also a popular tourist attraction. Hydrofoil ferries from Piraeus take only forty minutes to reach Aegina; the regular ferry takes about an hour, with ticket prices for adults within the 4-15 euro range. There are regular bus services from Aegina town to destinations throughout the island such as Agia Marina.

Agistri

Angistri, also Agistri and Ankistri or Agkistri (English: “fishing hook”) is a very small island community in the Saronic Gulf in Piraeus Prefecture, Greece. Angistri is a pine-covered island only a few kilometres across the harbor of Piraeus.

There are only three settlements on Angistri – Milos (Megalohori), Skala and Limenaria. Milos (pop. 461) is the main village where the majority of the Greek population of the island lives. Skala (pop. 354) is a twenty-minute walk from Milos along the coastal road. Skala is where most of the tourist facilities and hotels are. Limenaria (pop. 105) is a very small village on the other side of the island with very little tourism. The island’s population is 920 inhabitants according to the 2001 Greek census. Its land area is 13.367 km².

Poros

Poros is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf, at a distance about 58 km (31 nautical miles) south from Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200-metre wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas on the mainland across the strait. Its surface is about 31 square kilometres (12 square miles) and it has 4,117 inhabitants. The town of Poros has 4,102 of these inhabitants. The only other inhabited settlement is Ágios Nektários (pop. 15). 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: Sphairia, the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today’s city is located, and Kalaureia, also Kalavria or Calauria (meaning ‘gentle breeze’), the northern and largest part. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow isthmus. 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 centre of the island. It has a good road network and adequate tourist infrastructure, which makes it a popular resort for short holidays. Though possessing no airport, it is easily accessible from Athens via ferry or hydrofoil or from the adjacent mainland at Galatas.

Hydra

Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Saronic Gulf and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by narrow strip of water. In ancient times, the island was known as Hydrea (derived from the Greek word for “water”), which was a reference to the springs on the island.

Hydra is also a municipality and one of the few provinces in Greece to have two municipalities — which includes the island of Dokos — yet fewer than five communes. However, there are no municipal boundaries on the island and its smaller islands.

There is one main town, known simply as “Hydra port” (pop. 2,526 in 2001). It consists of a crescent-shaped harbour, around which is centred a strand of restaurants, shops, markets, and galleries that cater to tourists and locals (Hydriots). Steep stone streets lead up and outwards from the harbour area. Most of the local residences, as well as the hostelries on the island are located on these streets. Other small villages or hamlets on the island include Mandraki, Kamini, Vlychos, Palamidas), Episkopi, and Molos.

Spetses

Spetses is an island of Greece, sometimes included as one of the Saronic Islands. Until 1948, it was part of the old prefecture of Argolidocorinthia, which is now split into Argolis and Corinthia. In ancient times, it was known as Pityoussa, and later as Petses. The town of Spetses (pop. 3,846 in 2001) is the only large settlement on the island, and was one of only two provinces in Greece with fewer than five settlements and two municipalities. The island is presently an independent municipality (pop. 3,916), with no local boundaries within the municipality. The other settlements on the island are Moní Agíon Pánton, Ligonéri, Ágioi Anárgyroi, Kouzoúnos. Also part of the Municipality of Spetses are the islands of Spetsopoula and Velopoula (uninhabited).

Ferries and high-speed hydrofoils arrive regularly from Piraeus. The port is also known as Dapia. Trails encircle the island and total about 25 to 30 km; beaches include Agios Mamas, in the center of town, Agioi Anargiroi and Agia Paraskevi at the back of the island, Zogeria, and two beaches close to the town, College beach and Agia Marina, both offering watersports.