Korissia is where most visitors arrive on Kea — a practical port village in Agios Nikolaos Bay with more history than a ferry terminal might suggest, including industrial heritage, ancient remains and a beach a short walk from the dock.

First Impressions

The first thing visible as the ferry enters the bay is the 45-metre chimney of the old Enamel Factory, rising above the village on the road toward Ioulida. It’s a distinctive landmark and one of the more unusual sights in the Cyclades — the factory operated from 1927 to 1957 and was an important part of the island’s social and economic life for three decades.

The village itself is built over the location of ancient Korissos, one of the four city-states of Kea. Archaeological remains survive on the outskirts: ancient house foundations, a cemetery, and a wall with towers on the hill of Agios Savvas near the church of Agia Trias. The famous Kouros of Kea — one of the most significant archaic sculptures found in Greece, dated to around 530 BC — was unearthed in the ancient cemetery here and is now displayed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

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The Enamel Factory

The factory chimney is visible from the harbour and gives Korissia an industrial character unusual among Cycladic ports. The building and its site represent Kea’s most substantial monument of industrial heritage — a different kind of history from the island’s ancient temples and towers, but equally part of its story.

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Agios Georgios and the Beach

At the far end of the sandy beach that fronts Korissia, a small rock promontory carries the picturesque church of Agios Georgios, lit up each evening. The beach itself is organized in season and within walking distance of the port. It forms the southern arc of the same bay that stretches northward toward Gialiskari and eventually Vourkari.

Using Korissia as a Base

Korissia suits travelers who want practical convenience: the ferry, local shops and services, and easy access to the road network for day trips to beaches and villages. It’s a fifteen-minute drive to Ioulida and a two-kilometre coastal walk or short drive to Vourkari.

Agios Nikolaos Lighthouse

The path from the strait of Lambros Katsonis, on the Agia Irini peninsula, leads to the Agios Nikolaos lighthouse, which welcomes and bids farewell to ships entering and leaving the bay. Built in 1831, it is considered the first lighthouse in the Cyclades and the second in modern Greece according to official local sources — an understated piece of maritime history on a quiet coastal path.

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