Mount Pelion is the backbone of the entire Prefecture of Magnesia. Here the characteristic architecture of Pelion sits harmoniously amongst its natural environment.
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The highest peak of Mount Pelion is the Pourianos Cross at 1.624m, northwest, after the villages of Zagora and Horefto, above the village of Pouri. There many other peaks and one of those is the AgrioLefkes (Wild White) at 1.471m. There you can find the popular ski centre offering refuges, restaurants, refreshments, power lifts, a lot runs for those wishing to ski, three parking areas and a first aid station. You can visit for skiing whenever there is snow in the winter months but during the other months of the year you can find coffee or dining.
Pelion is a tourist destination for all four seasons. The seasons vary visibly due to it geographical location and the richness of its inexhaustible habitat. In Pelion there are rich green forests, rich in flora and fauna and with ever-changing landscapes with lush green meadows, arable land and olive groves.
The existence of large breaks in the earth, heavy rain and excessive snow as created many springs. The most important ones are of Kaliakoudas and Lagonikas. In Pelion there are no rivers with a steady flow but large gulley’s, like the one at Lagonikas. Vrihona, Kaliakoudas and Feloukas with a significant flow during the winter and spring months, as well as dozens of small streams.
As the seasons change, so do the characteristics of the villages and hamlets of Pelion. Many are built in the traditional architectural style of Pelion, amphitheatrically sitting on the imposing slopes and for that reason they call the region the ‘balcony of the Aegean and of the Pagastikou Gulf’ or of both seas.
Some are hidden in the rich vegetation, others are more mansion like, some more picturesque, some small and some larger. Others are agricultural, others are more developed for tourism and others give you the impression that you are on an island or peninsular. Particularly in spring when everything is in bloom, most villages have verdant gardens that let out a powerful perfume that becomes evident when you take a walk through the cobbled streets. The architecture and layout of Pelion is unique, though some part of the houses and the cobbled streets do, as do the stone springs, resemble parts of Epiros and Macedonia. This comes mainly from the fact that during the period of 1750-1850 many builders and stone masons arrived in Pelion from all over Greece, but especially from Epiros (Pursogianni) and from Zoubani, today Pentalofo.
Most of the influence of the classic architectural Pelion style was shaped from the artistic ‘twins’, the architect Dimos Zipaniotis and stone mason Milios Zoupaniopolitis. The majority of the mansions that they constructed during that era had a stone base with two or three stories, reminiscent of the first towers. The stone roofs are covered with Pelion slate from the quarries and protect the houses from the challenging climate conditions. Internally the mansions have a rich painted décor, the ceilings are carved wooden and painted, and the outside décor has motive and inscriptions.
The early architecture of Pelion includes buildings that were built by the middle of the 18th Century. The majority of them have square floor plan, are built in local stone and the floors are usually paved in local slate. They are tower like constructions with small sized windows and turrets, in other words they are home forts!
The later architectural period of Pelion dates from 1860 until 1890 and includes the construction of the new classical style mansions, of which the most were influenced by modern Egyptian architecture styled by the pace of the times, as they were built mainly by immigrant Peliorites who had returned to their country bring with them tastes and styles from foreign lands. This was how the styles of Baroque and Rococo appeared in the architecture as well.
Of course it ts not just the mansions that enchant the visitor, but also, the numerous religious monuments, the bridges, the fountains, the cobbled squares and the stone bridges, all examples of the very distinctive architecture of Pelion. Mainly the bridges are arched and sit in complete harmony with their natural surroundings. They connect the banks across small streams, and are usually single arches and smaller than their counterparts in Epirus that bridge the larger rivers and secondary branches. The cobbled footpaths also connect the villages with each other.
The main core of each place is usually the village square; at the hub of everything the cobbled streets meet here and unite the communities. It is normal for the village to grow and radiate around the square and there will normally be a church dedicated to a particular saint from which the village will be named.
The main characteristic of the square in Pelion is the slate paving surrounding by the century old plane trees. The majority of the squares have a fountain (or tap) from which flows crystal clear water even today, and usually the name of the square is taken from the name of the fountain, or from the quality of the water, or from the donor or its constructor.
The stone or marble fountains are usually of two types; either open, or covered with a built wooden shed around it with Pelion slabs and many of them have a watering hole for animals. The most common are lined with stone benches for the locals to gather and quench their thirst. A third category is the neoclassical fountains in white marble, with the spring coming out of the mouths of lion heads, with the base as a single piece of a white marble basin.
The intricate network of cobbled footpaths was used as the guide as to where to lay the asphalt road system (tarmac). Other cobbled paths were in such poor condition from natural disasters such as earthquakes, the large one in 1954 causing extensive damage, and war, that they need restoring; whilst others have escaped and remained in their original state. Many are stone paved and take you back through time to other eras, and others resemble the rough footpaths that run through the wonderful natural scenery scattered along the route with fountains, springs and chapels.
The footpaths and cobbled streets, along with the railway that ran from Volos to Milion, were until the 1950’s the only axis of communication between the villages and Volos. The train line between Volos-Milion is today the ‘little train of Pelion’ as it is now known, or Mountzouris, is now mainly for tourists but in its time, and for many years, it was the only transport for people, and commercial goods and was vital in the rapid growth of the region. The line was built by the Italian engineer, Evastio De Kiriko, father of the famous painter Georgio De Kiriko. It is worthwhile crossing Pelion on the train via Evastio De Kiriko’s famous five arched bridge at Ano Gatzeas, not just to admire the spectacular scenery, but to wonder at the craftsmanship of the bridge itself. Leaving from Lechona, you pass the stations of Ano Gatzeas, Agia Triada, Agiou Athanasiou Pinakaton and the little settlement of Agryreika, finally reaching the terminal station, Milies. This trip will remain unforgettable!
The cobbled footpaths, very often, also reach down to some surprisingly beautiful beaches, many on the Aegean coast being very wild and more inaccessible, but also to the Pagastikou Gulf side. This network of paths makes the region such a popular destination for Greek and foreigners’ visitors alike, for walking and hiking tours.
Once we have planned all the above we can go onto explore the many beautiful beaches the region has to offer.
Many walking routes are promoted through the various tourist guides and from the Internet. Excursions are also organised by many of the local tourist agencies all through the year, but it is also possible to organise by yourself as the network of footpaths are so well sign-posted and marked that you can manage without assistance to plan your routes. You can also plan rock-climbing, kayaking, mountaineering, biking and horse riding and archery.
After planning all the above it is time to explore the enchanting beaches of the region. The beaches of Pelion, the ones on the Aegean coast and the ones on the Pagastikos Gulf, are well known for their clear waters and many have been awarded the Blue Flag from the European Union for cleanliness. There are beaches for every taste; quiet, cosmopolitan, organized for swimming, racquets, water sports, hiking, with or without sand (gold, white or chocolaty) or with shingle, pebbles, (white black, grey, coloured); rocks, or a combination of all! Typically the lush vegetation practically reaches the water’s edge with the emerald, hues of turquoise to the deep blue or green sea. A lot of these beaches offer sailing, diving and fishing.
As a rule the beaches that are found on the Pagastikos side are less windy, warmer and with fewer waves compared to the wilder beaches that face the Aegean Sea on which, when the wind is up, there can be found very large waves that can become dangerous.
As far as the celebrations in Pelion are concerned, the main ones are during the summer months and are the patron saints of the villages, the monasteries and the Virgin Mary; who usually, though as in yonder years, you will still find colorful festivals celebrating around the villages squares. With the exception of the religious festivals there are also many interesting cultural and artistic events, like the concerts and theatrical performances. It is worthwhile doing your research annually for these events as they are rapidly growing larger and are more spread out every year.
Particular ones of interest are listed below;
Agios Lavrentios; ‘Musical Village’ – International Music Community’ with events in the field of music, theatre, (dolls theatre – puppet show), dance, performance, science, performing arts, specialist treatments, physical arts and poetry.
‘International Children’s Dance Festival’ in Portaria
‘Milinas Night’ with theatrical performances and concerts with traditional music.
Cultural events celebrating the name ‘Argonauts’, in honor of Jason and the Argonauts with theatrical performances, concerts and a festival.
The festival of ‘Zagora, Tsagarada, Kissos’ with seminars and concerts in Zagora and with similar events in the wide area of Eastern Pelion.
‘Violoncello Festival’ in Zagora including lessons, concerts and workshops. There are also organized and interesting events in agricultural tourism.
And as mentioned earlier;
The fish night in Agria, the custom of the Mayans’ in Makrinitsa, the Pelion wedding in Portaria, the traditional Trikerian wedding with all the women in traditional dress singing and dancing the traditional songs from Trikeri, the flower celebration in Ano Meria, Lechonitika and Antistheria (wine festival) in lower Lechonia, the floral cooperative of the women from Makrirachi, the sausage festival in Stagiates, the tsipourou (local firewater) in Katechori, the cherry one in Agio laurentio, the olive one in Argalasth, chestnuts in Xourixti in October, apples in Zagora, pear in Milies, all to the backdrop of traditional music and dancing, plus there is a lot more to look out for. They also organise seminars on mushrooms and even have mushroom eating excursions every spring and autumn in Tsagarada. A lot of these events allow the public to participate in.
In Pelion they organise eclectic and a unique quality of produce such as ‘spoon sweets’, local pasta, ‘trachanas’ (a mixture of grains and fermented milk that is added to dishes for flavor and texture), tsipouro, honey, royal jelly, olive oil, olives and herbs from small producers and cooperatives. There are also many female agricultural cooperatives who sort out, found and recorded traditional recipes and, with help from the local farmers and producers, they made their ‘spoon sweets’, jams, liqueurs from fresh fruits and nuts to homemade pasta, biscuits, rusks, pies and all the seasonal treats, tsoureki and kourambiedes (the sweet Easter bread and almond biscuits at Christmas).
Accommodation wise there are many mansions that have been converted into guesthouses, rented rooms, modern hotel complexes with spacious rooms with wedding suites and camping, many of which are found next to the sea, others in the mountains in wonderfully cobbled villages.
You will also find many eateries ranging from traditional tavernas to atmospherical, gourmet restaurants with acclaimed chefs. Throughout the area there are also many ‘tsipouradika’ (little cafes serving the local tsipouro) offering them with ‘mezedakia’ (little tasters) of seafood and many other local delicacies, some brought to you directly from the surrounding nature, like the ‘tsitsiravla’, or pickled greens.
In other words Pelion offers everything, satifies every taste and provides for everyone’s pocket.
Generally Pelion offers you a warm, pleasant, unforgettable and high quality stay. It is perfect for all ages and all seasons.
Simply MAGIC and TIMELESS!
Welcome!