Lechaeum

Lechaeum (Lechaion) was the principal ancient port of Corinth on the Gulf of Corinth. It functioned as the city’s western maritime outlet and hub for sea-borne trade in antiquity.

Today the site offers visible archaeological remains of harbour structures, quay foundations and related coastal installations that attest to its long use as a port. Excavated foundations and scattered masonry mark the locations where ships once berthed and goods were handled.

The harbour served Corinth from the Archaic and Classical periods through Roman times and was repeatedly rebuilt; over centuries natural silting and seismic events reduced the harbour’s utility and changed the coastline. The site is frequently studied as part of Corinth’s broader urban and maritime history.

Lechaeum is located on the north coast of the Peloponnese at the western shore of the Gulf of Corinth, adjacent to the ancient city of Corinth and near the modern town and port facilities.

• Role in antiquity: Served as the western maritime port of ancient Corinth on the Gulf of Corinth and was the city's main seaport in antiquity.
• Silting and preservation: Much of the former harbour area has silted up over centuries, so archaeological remains lie partly inland from the modern shoreline.

What to See #

• Harbour remains: The harbour area includes the foundations of quays and breakwater works and scattered masonry remains that mark the site of port installations used in antiquity.
• Associated coastal installations: Archaeological traces along the shore show where the port functioned as the western maritime outlet for ancient Corinth, with nearby traces of roads and commercial installations that linked to the city.