Salamina

Map of Salamina

Salamina is the largest island of Argosaronic islands, 95km² extension and 39.000 population, and the quickest possible island-hop from Pireas. The island itself is highly developed, has few tourist facilities and is close enough to the Athenian dockyards to make swimming unappealing. The island's port is at Paloukia, facing the mainland, just a short hop across a narrow, built-up isthmus to Salamina Town, the capital, on the West coast. Five kilometers or so beyond Salamina Town, Eandio has the island's cleanest and most attractive beaches. A similar distance from Salamina Town to the North, the monastery of Faneromeni is a working nunnery with impressive frescoes, beautifully sited amid pine woods overlooking the mainland. Salamina is well-known by one of the most significant sea battles of ancient times.

Selinia

Beaches

Few beaches of Salamina are available for swimming like Mpatsi, Kaki Vigla, Kanakia, Selinia, Eandio.

Kanakia

Sights

Monastery of Faneromeni, cave of Euripides, Church of the Prophet Ilias, The new City Hall Of Salamina, Archaeological museum, The Folklore and Art Museum of Salamina, The stone Lighthouse.

The Battle of Salamina

Salamina

Perhaps the main reason for heading to Salamina is for the boat trip itself, through an extraordinary industrial seascape of docks and shipworks. These waters were the site of one of the most significant sea battles of ancient times, maybe of all time, given that this was a decisive blow in preventing the Persian invasion and allowing the development of Classical Athens.

In 480 BC, the Greeks were in full retreat from the vast Persian army under Xerxes, following the defeat of the Spartans at Thermopyles(Hotgates). Many Greek cities, including Athens, had been sacked and burned by the invaders. The Greeks had roughly 350 triremes supplied by around 20 cities, the bulk from Athens, Korinthos and Egina. The Persian fleet has twice the size, with heavier ships, but even more diverse, with many from subject nations whose loyalty was questionable.

Through false information and strategic retreats, the Greeks managed first to tire many of the Persian crews- who rowed all night to cut off a non-existent escape attempt- and then to lure them into narrow strait of Salamina. Crowded in and unable to manoeuvre, and woth the wind in wrong direction, the Persians found themselves at the mercy of the more nimble Greek triremes, and the battle eventually became a rout. Two hundred Persian ships were sunk, against forty-odd on the Greek side, and few of their heavily armored crews survived

Transportation

By boat: There are half-hourly small passenger boats from Pireas throughout the day and a constant stream of small boats and roll-on, roll-off car ferries, day and night, from Perama, on the mainland directly opposite(5min).

Getting Around

By bus: Salamina has a pretty impressive bus system, with departures from the ferry dock in Paloukia to Salamina Town every 15min. Buses are also run hourly to numerous other destinations on the island, including Eandio and Faneromeni.

Panoramic view

  

Useful Phone Numbers

Municipality of Salamina: 210 4646000

Police Department: 210 464651100

Port: 210 4677277

Fire Department: 210 4685199

Health Center: 210 4651711 and 210 4650150