Ancient Harbour of Lechaion

A seaside archaeological site in the Municipality of Corinth, 6 m above sea level, home to 1,003 residents at the 2021 census.

• Elevation6 m
• Residents1,003
• MunicipalityCorinth

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Ancient Corinth had two harbours, one on each sea. Lechaion was the western one, on the Corinthian Gulf, and it was how the city reached the western Mediterranean and Italy.

What you will see

The harbour was largely man-made: the Corinthians dug basins into the shoreline and connected them to the sea. The outlines of those basins are still visible today, along with the spoil heaps thrown up by the digging.

The most striking monument on the site, however, is Christian: the enormous Early Christian basilica of the 5th century, traditionally dedicated to Saint Leonidas. At over 180 metres long it was among the largest churches in the entire empire — a scale that shows how important Corinth remained in early Byzantine times.

Practical notes

• A few kilometres from Ancient Corinth, towards the sea.
• The site is open ground with no shade; wear closed shoes.
• Combine it with Ancient Corinth and Acrocorinth in the same day.