Pothia was built in 1850 when the pirates' raids decreased allowing the inhabitants to move near the sea.
The sheltered, south facing harbor is one of the most important in the Aegean and offers well organized marina services and good ferry and hydrofoil connections as well as being home to a large fleet of traditional fishing boats.
The seafront is adorned with shops and lively cafes as well as attractive public buildings in Italianate style, a culture centre and cinema.
Source: Municipality of Kalymnos