Greek National Road 8 ( Greek : Εθνική Οδός 8 , abbreviated as EO8 , common name: old Athens-Patras national road ) is a single carriageway with at-grade intersections in the Attica , Peloponnese and West Greece regions. It connects Athens with the cities of Corinth and Patras . Since the 1960s it has been replaced for most of its length with the National Road 8A , a limited-access toll road that bypasses most towns, as the major route to the Peloponnese. The EO8a has since been upgraded to the A8 motorway .
31-571: National Road 8 passes along the northern coast of the Saronic Gulf , through the Isthmus of Corinth and further, along the southern coast of the Gulf of Corinth , and ending in downtown Patras . It runs through five regional units: Central Athens , West Athens , West Attica , Corinthia and Achaea . Since the opening of National Road 8A it is mainly used for local traffic in the coastal towns. According to
62-621: A short airport road to the Eleusis Airbase, also branches off from the EO8. [REDACTED] Geographic data related to Greek National Road 8 at OpenStreetMap Saronic Gulf The Saronic Gulf ( Greek : Σαρωνικός κόλπος, Saronikós kólpos ) or Gulf of Aegina in Greece is formed between the peninsulas of Attica and Argolis and forms part of the Aegean Sea . It defines the eastern side of
93-450: Is tectonically dissected and part of a Tertiary tectonic mélange . There are karstic sinkholes in the island's central limestone massif , and limestone caves with stalactites . Visible marine fossils are mainly found in the limestone, no occurrences of precious stones or ore deposits are known. Limestone from Poros, an example of the poros stone , was an important component in the construction of Mycenaean tholos tombs in
124-483: Is a small Greek island-pair in the southern part of the Saronic Gulf , about 58 km (36 miles; 31 nautical miles) south of the port of Piraeus and separated from the Peloponnese by a 200 m (656 ft) wide sea channel, with the town of Galatas on the mainland across the strait. Its surface area is about 31 square kilometres (12 sq mi) and it has 3,261 inhabitants (2021). The ancient name of Poros
155-419: Is also in the northeast. Beaches line much of the gulf coast from Poros to Epidaurus , Galataki to Kineta and from Megara to Eleusis and from Piraeus down to Anavyssos . Athens' urban area surrounds the northern and the eastern coasts of this gulf. Bays in the gulf include Phaleron Bay , Elefsina Bay to the north, Kechries Bay in the northwest and Sofiko Bay in the east. The volcano of Methana
186-467: Is located to the southwest along with Kromyonia at the Isthmus of Corinth, Aegina and Poros. Methana is also the youngest most active volcano center and forms the northwestern end of the cycladic arch of active volcanoes that includes Milos island, Santorini island and Nisyros island. A hydropathic institute at Methana makes use of the hot sulphurous water that still surfaces in the area. The most recent eruption
217-529: The Greek Revolution in 1821, due to its strategic position. The Greek revolutionary leaders, often met in Poros to discuss and plan their future actions. The first Greek naval base was established in Poros in 1828 and remained there until 1878. In September 1828, the ambassadors of England, France and Russia met in Poros with Ioannis Kapodistrias in order to determine the borders of the future Greek state, which
248-535: The ancient theatre at Epidaurus and nearby asclepieion and the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina. The Saronic Gulf is one of congregating areas for short-beaked common dolphins in Aegean Sea. On recent occasions, more of large whales such as fin whales have been sighted in the gulf due to improving environmental conditions. Poros Poros ( Greek : Πόρος ; Modern Greek pronunciation: [ˈporos] )
279-568: The isthmus of Corinth , being the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal , which cuts across the isthmus. The Saronic Islands in the gulf have played a pivotal role in the history of Greece , with the largest, Salamis being the location of a significant naval battle in the Greco-Persian wars . The Megara Gulf makes up the northern end of the Saronic Gulf. The Athens urban area lies on
310-453: The period of Mycenaean dominance (1400-1100 BC) Calauria was quite powerful and the most important naval base of region was located on islet Monti or Liontari on its eastern coast. The city-state of Calauria was home to an asylum dedicated to Poseidon, the ruins of which are still accessible on a hilltop close to the town. This asylum may have been linked to the sanctuaries at Geraistos and Tainaros . Ancient historians stated that Calauria
341-474: The Athenians defeat Xerxes , assuring Athens its place as the cradle of modern European culture. The ancient port of Cenchreae used to be situated here. The gulf includes the islands of Aegina , Salamis , and Poros along with smaller islands of Patroklos and Fleves . The port of Piraeus , Athens' port, lies on the northeastern edge of the gulf. The site of the former Ellinikon International Airport
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#1732884525050372-588: The EO8 from Patras to Eleusis , although it bypasses many villages and towns that the EO8 directly serve. The remaining sections of the EO8a (between Corinth and Rio) will be upgraded to be part of the A8, and the EO8 will become a non-motorway detour. Apart from the EO8a and A8, the EO8 has connections with (from east to west) the EO1, EO56, A1, EO58, EO3, EO7, EO31, EO5, EO33 and EO9: the EO58,
403-552: The Government Gazette in 1963, the original alignment of EO8 ran from Athens to Patras , via: Corinth , Kiato , Derveni , Aigio and Rio . Today, the EO8 bypasses Megara , whereas the original alignment ran through the town. In Athens, the EO8 currently runs via Athinon Avenue instead of Iera Odos and Egaleo . Additionally, the EO8a and the A8 (Athens–Patras) runs parallel to
434-743: The Hellenistic period in the ruins of the Calaurian asylum, along with a plaque celebrating the "revival" of its amphictyony. During the 5th century, the Persian Empire annexed the Greek cities of western Anatolia . When the Athenians helped these cities in a revolt against Persian rule , Poros, along with the other Greek states of mainland Greece and the Aegean islands, was drawn into the Greco-Persian Wars . At
465-571: The Late Bronze Age , being used particularly for monuments at Mycenae , including the Tomb of Aegisthus . In the northeastern part of the island, in a location called “Kavos Vasili”, the archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a settlement of the Early Bronze Age. This settlement is the oldest of the wider area of Trizinia, Peloponnese, and is believed to be interrelated with the wreck found on
496-626: The Methana volcano dramatically changed the morphology of Poros and the wider region. The Sanctuary of Poseidon has been excavated by Swedish archaeologists. The 1894 field season is considered to be the first Swedish archaeological campaign in Greece. Swedes have continued excavations from 1997 in collaboration with the Greek National Heritage Board. During the Roman period (86 BC to 395 AD) Poros
527-612: The beginning of the Peloponnesian War , Troezen and Calauria offered asylum to an anti- Macedonian politician who eventually became the tyrant of the region. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, the Ptolemies of Egypt occupied Calauria. Around the same time, the Athenian orator Demosthenes came to the island, where some report his suicide . In 273 BC, the last explosion of
558-485: The canal make the gulf quite a busy area with commercial shipping. Fault lines dominate especially in the northwestern part. Sailing is popular in the Saronic Gulf which, like the neighbouring Argolic Gulf, benefits from the Attic mainland's partial shelter from the summer Meltemi wind that can reach Force 7 and above further to the east in the Aegean islands. The Gulf boasts two particularly notable archaeological sites:
589-474: The facilities for use of the Greek war navy, and offered the Russians an alternative location in a nearby cove. The new facilities were far larger, and were used by Russian ships throughout the 19th century. The number of Russian residents of Poros increased and even a Russian school was established. Then as Russian naval activity declined, so did the base and by the early 20th century only a single Russian watchman
620-537: The island had about 15,000 inhabitants, making it one of the largest cities in Greece. Arvanites were recorded among the inhabitants of the island in 1688. They lived in poverty as most did in Greece at the time. Venetian rule ended in 1715. The Ottoman Period began in 1715, much later in Poros than in the rest of Greece. Shipping and commerce were the inhabitants' main activities, but Poros' fleet wasn't as famous as Hydra's or Spetses' fleet, and did not participate in many sea battles. Poros had an important role during
651-474: The municipality is 49.582 square kilometres (19.144 sq mi). This includes the islands and part of the adjacent Peloponnese coast, adjacent to Galatas , Thermisia and the island of Hydra . The landscape is very hilly and mountainous. The highest peak is the Vigla (358 m) in the west-central part. Following the island's topography and geology, small creeks and seasonal streams flow through steep valleys of
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#1732884525050682-417: The nearby Dokos island which dates to the same period. Poros was divided into two islands during antiquity: Sphairia (also known by its modern Greek form Sfairia) and Calauria (also known by its ancient Greek form Kalaureia and its modern Greek form Kalavria). Sphairia consisted of the area of the modern island which includes its current capital. Calauria was the larger part of the island to its north. During
713-544: The north coast of the Saronic Gulf. The origin of the gulf's name comes from the mythological king Saron who drowned at the Psifaei lake (modern Psifta ). The Saronic Gulf was a string of six entrances to the Underworld , each guarded by a chthonic enemy in the shape of a thief or bandit. The Battle of Salamis , just to the west of modern-day Piraeus, took place in the Saronic Gulf. This naval battle off Salamis Island saw
744-430: The northern and largest part. A bridge connects the two islands over a narrow strait . 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 center of the island. It has a good road network and adequate tourist infrastructure, which makes it a popular resort for short holidays. The land area of
775-547: The southern and northeastern part. The western and northern part of the island feature smooth hills and shallow valleys. Sandy beaches are restricted to the southern shore of the island, except for a bay in the northern part called Vayionia. Poros contains the main village Poros and the smaller villages Ágios Nektários and Kyaní Aktí. The geology of the island comprises Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary rocks ( limestone , and Flysch -type sandstone ) and ophiolites , as well as Neogene volcanic rocks on Sferia . The island
806-455: Was Pogon. Like other ports in the Saronic, it is a popular weekend destination for Athenian travellers. Poros consists of two islands: Sphaeria ( Greek : Σφαιρία , pronounced [sfeˈria] ), the southern part, which is of volcanic origin, where today's city is located, and Kalaureia ( Greek : Καλαυρία , [kalavˈria] ), also Kalavria or Calauria (meaning 'gentle breeze'),
837-589: Was established two years later, in 1830. With the Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji , Russia secured free shipping for its navy, war and merchant alike, throughout the waters of the Ottoman Empire. As Russian naval activity grew, need arose for a supply station, and land was acquired at the edge of Poros town. Extensive materiel, coal , and food storage facilities were built, as well as a hardtack baking factory. After Greek independence, Governor Capodistrias requisitioned
868-537: Was left guarding it. It was then granted to the Greek Navy by the Czar but was never put to actual use, and the abandoned buildings were left to decay. The ruins, in elaborately carved stone, were listed as protected architectural monuments in 1989. In the beginning of the 20th century, among the activities of the Poros' inhabitants were agriculture (mainly wheat, grapevines and olives), livestock, fishing and shipping. Poros
899-412: Was of a submarine volcano north of Methana in the 17th century. The gulf has refineries around the northern part of the gulf including east of Corinth and west of Agioi Theodoroi, Eleusis, Aspropyrgos, Skaramangas and Keratsini. These refineries produce most of Greece's refined petroleum products, a large proportion of which are then exported. Commercial shipping to the refineries, Piraeus, and to and from
930-608: Was part of the Roman Empire along with Trizina, to which it was a tributary. In Byzantine times, Poros and other islands were often raided by the pirates that dominated the Aegean Sea. In 1484 the Venetians occupied Poros and used it as a strategic port in their sea battles with the Ottomans. Poros was the most powerful city of the wider area, also governing Methana Island, Epidaurus, Damalas (Trizina), Fanari and Valario. During that time,
961-405: Was the center of an amphictyony , a religious alliance between its city-state and those of Athens , Poros, Aegina , Epidaurus , Hermione , Troezen , Nauplio , Orchomenus , and Prasaiai . Modern archaeology has discovered no evidence for its actual existence, however, and now believe the " Calaurian League " to have been a later Hellenistic invention. An enormous feast was found dating to