Saronic Gulf

In early October on the island of Poros, located in the southern Saronic Gulf, the scene around the harbor indicates that summer is still in full swing. Tourist shops remain open, and the season shows no signs of ending before November.

The pistachio arrived in Aegina only a century ago but found the ideal environment to take root on the island of Saronic Gulf. The climate and soil gave and still give one of the most beloved nuts.

The Corinth Canal will close for four months on November 4 to allow for work to continue on protecting its embankments from erosion, its operator has said.

"This closure is necessary to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the canal. Based on the current project schedule, the works are expected to be completed by early March 2025," Corinth Canal SA said.

The tradition of pistachio cultivation and processing on the island has been going strong for 120 years, since its introduction there. Preserving and showcasing this traditional knowledge is crucial for Aegina’s collective memory and modern identity.

Upon arriving at the port, one is immediately welcomed into Aegina's artistic realm by "The Gate of Aegina," a large-scale sculpture by Kostas Varotsos. Crafted from glass and metal, it mirrors the proportions of the wooden doors found adorning the island's neoclassical buildings.

Yannis Rossopoulos boards the last ship leaving Piraeus' Gate E8 for the islands of the Saronic Gulf on the evening of July 6. His destination is Ermioni, a small port town on the Argolida peninsula, where he will spend the entire summer season working as a cook in a five-star hotel. He rolls a cigarette on the small deck, before the ship sets sail.

Greek prosecutors have charged eight adult Kazakh passengers aboard a privately chartered yacht with complicity in arson for a fire on the Saronic island of Hydra last week. Two minors among them are not facing charges.

Greek authorities have sought assistance from Kazakhstan, as the yacht's renters left Greece without being questioned by authorities.

As 13 crew members accused of starting a devastating wildfire on the Saronic island of Hydra sparked by fireworks shot off the privately chartered yacht they were working on prepared to face a magistrate on Wednesday, the individuals who had hired their services were allowed to leave the country without being questioned.

The Cyclades dominate the list of the most expensive holiday homes for sale, as the high demand and strong tourism interest of recent years have brought the asking prices to a level that surpasses the majority of parts of Attica.

Traffic has eased on the major thoroughfares out of Athens after the biggest Easter exodus in recent years from the capital peaked on the afternoon of Good Friday.

Data showed that from 6 a.m. on Holy Monday to 6 a.m. on Good Friday, 329,684 vehicles passed the toll plazas on the motorways to Corinth and Lamia. That figure was 309,998 last year and 291,141 in 2022.