Porto Rafti, official name: Limin Markopoulou, is a seaside resort town in East Attica, Greece. It is part of the municipality Markopoulo Mesogaias, and it is about 15–20 minutes by car from the International airport of Athens, Eleftherios Venizelos, and about 35–40 minutes from downtown Athens via the highway. In 2011, its population was 9,686. The region of Mesogaia is well known for its fine vineyards, figs, and pistachios. Currently, there are several modern wine-making facilities in the region. It is part of Athens metropolitan area.
Geography
The town of Porto Rafti stretches amphitheatrically around the Rafti Bay, a bay of the Aegean Sea, on the east coast of the Attica peninsula. It is surrounded by pine-cladded hills, the tallest of which is Merenta, 613 m above sea level. It is 5 km south of Vravrona, 6 km east of Markopoulo and 26 km southeast of the center of Athens.
History
The port was a major trading place until the collapse of the Roman Empire. The names of the ancient villages around the bay of Porto Rafti were Steiria, Prasiai, and Koroni. They belonged to the paraktia Pandionis phyle, according to the division of the Ancient Athenian Democracy by Clisthenes in the early 5th century BCE. The port of Porto Rafti is no longer in use as a commercial harbor due to environmental concerns, but it has an organized marina for smaller recreational vessels with seaside restaurants and cafes. This port was the scene of the allied troops' evacuation after the German invasion in Greece at the end of April 1941.
Churches
" St. Spiridonos Church" Greek Orthodox Church which is situated on south end of Piratis Mountain, just on the coast of a major beach that takes after this church name. It is one of the oldest churches on the area. " Agia Marina Church" Greek Orthodox Church on the way towards Avlaki. This church opening was on 1951.
Porto Rafti Today
Porto Rafti is nowadays a famous seaside resort, with free beaches at the locations of St Spyridon, Erotospilia and Avlaki, and an organized municipal beach at Avlaki. Porto Rafti, along with the areas of Keratea, Markopoulo, and Koropi, has experienced a housing development boom since 2004. It is also a place of permanent residence for many. A problem with the region and the whole Mesogeia region was the lack of an integrated sewerage and watering system, which over the last few years it is being gradually addressed and rectified, region by region. At the borders of the Municipality of Markopoulo, to the north of Porto Rafti, there is the Historic site of ancient Brauron with an ancient temple and a local museum. Today Porto Rafti is accessible through Attiki Odos and the nearby subway station "Koropi". In addition, a study has been submitted for expansion of suburban railway from Koropi to Lavrio, with intermediate stops in "Markopoulo", "Kalyvia" and "Keratea"
