The village of Neochori is built on the east side of Mount Pelion, amidst a thick pine forest, entangled with plane, and chestnut trees, which lend to its traditional beauty.
Located at a distance of 35km from Volos, it is one of the few villages in the area that looks towards every aspect of the horizon, in other words, a view towards the Aegean Gulf, the Pagasitiko Gulf and the green of Mount Pelion.
The history of the village dates back to Early Christian years, indicated by the finds from the excavation of this medieval settlement, since identified as the location of Lan.
The village is famous for its quarries that produce the slate slabs that are prominent throughout most of the traditional architecture in Pelion, of which are located a little outside of Neochori.
Visitors can rest in the large, central plane tree shaded square, and quench their thirst at the stone built faucets, the constant factor of most of the squares in Pelion; a place to cool off under the shade of the centuries old plane trees. Exactly above the temple, at roof height, a view rises of the stunning picturesque square of the village, built amphitheatrically on two levels, joined by stone steps paved with slate.
The imposing Temple of St Dimitris, the patron saint of the village, is worth admiring. The building, an example of the remarkable architecture, was constructed in the 2nd half of the 18th century (1760) and has wonderful frescoes, by the Epirotic hagiographer Ioannis Pagoni, a gilded wooden temple and an throne from the village of Episkopiko in the region of Epiros in northeastern Greece. There are also various heirlooms and some rare pictures.
You can browse through the traditional cobbled paths and admire its stone built, traditional mansions, past the beautiful streams that cool the village. A little further, you will come across the dam of ‘Panagiotiko’ with its man-made lake at the west of the village.
At various locations outside the village you can discover the other interesting sights, most of which are classed as ecclesiastical sites. At the location of ‘Spalatria’, just 4km outside of Neochori, you will come across the Monastery of Tourkoyianni, or Kaloyiannis (which means Good Ioannis), that is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and on whose persevered walls there are amazing frescoes to admire. You can also visit the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, Plaka, the protector of the quarries, which was built in 1655 and also has wonderful post byzantine frescoes.
Throughout this area there are many scenci, pretty little tavernas with exquisite food and great appetizers to accompany tsipouro. Visitors here feel at ‘one’ with nature, whilst enjoying a peaceful, relaxing holiday, whichever season of the year they choose to visit.
In Neochori most of the produce you will be served is organic and you can visit the many organic farms in the area.
Now you have finished your culture tour you can swim at one of the lesser known, but still magical beaches of Plaka (Neochori) and Klossou. Of course even on the beaches of Plaka you will find the post byzantine ruins of the Palaiokastro (old castle), also worth visiting.