The village initially was found in the place ' Saint Spiridon, to the Kontia's village. There today exist residues of old cemetery. The residents abandoned the old village before 280 years, at the N. Lymperi, because a epidemic of cholera.
We see that in this village is also repeated the delivery for epidemic of cholera in the island, around in 1700. Of course her time determination is arguable. Very probably, all these common deliveries about epidemic, they emanated from the epidemic of plague that affected the island 1349-50.
The name Portjano has latin origin, from the words Porto juno, that is to say new harbour. This harbour made by the Enetians in the near beach in the S.E. of old village, where is saved and enetic tower.
In the Portiano the allied forces were camped in 1915 at the expedition of Kallipolis. The deads of this tragic expedition were burried in allied cemetery, that exists still in the village.