LOCATION

VOLOS

Capital of the prefecture of Magnesia, the 6th largest city in Greece, and a major commercial port, it is today a modern and dynamic city with its own University and an intense economic and intellectual life. Built in the cove of the Pagasitic Gulf, near the site of ancient Iolkos and in the shadow of Pelion (320 km from Athens and 217 km from Thessaloniki) it is a city that hovers between the nostalgia of renovated neoclassical buildings and the life of today, which overflows at every step, at all hours of the day…

PELION

The mountain that hosted Gods and Centaurs and that dominates between the Aegean and the Pagasetic Seas, is one of the most charming places in Greece, a unique combination of mountain and sea that fascinates with its diversity, as the rich vegetation has a backdrop of the infinite blue. The color changes create the most beautiful painting, while the landscape surprises you by constantly changing, with the beech giving way to the olive tree, where the 24 stone-built villages that gaze at the sea suddenly lower and touch the wave.

AFISSOS

Afissos is a picturesque village in Western Pelion built amphitheatrically in a calm bay, just 22 kilometers from Volos, flanked by three beaches, Kallifteri, Ambovo and Lagoudi. According to legend, the Argonauts stopped here for water before continuing their journey to Colchis. Stone-built houses that emerge from the greenery, a church built in 1765, picturesque taverns in front of the clear waters where seafood and the “sacred tsipouraki” are the norm…

Magnesia, the ancient land of the Centaurs and Argonauts, took its name from Magnetes, son of Aeolus, according to mythology, who was the first to choose the region as his kingdom.

The capital of the prefecture is Volos, which is identified with the ancient city of Iolkos from which Jason began the Argonaut Expedition to Colchis, with the aim of bringing the Golden Fleece.

It is a new city that was created at the end of the 19th century on the site of a Turkish settlement, and which, after its annexation to Greece in 1881, developed into the third largest port in the country.

PELION

Mountain of the Centaurs and, according to mythology, summer residence of the gods, which magically combines greenery with the sea, famous for its forests, herbs and medicinal plants (the first sanatorium in Greece was founded here in 1903), its fruits (mainly apples) and olives.

Here the Titanic Wars took place, here was the cave of “Extreme Zeus”, on these slopes Peleus married the Nereid Thetis and they had Achilles. In its dense forests lived the Centaurs, the most famous among them being Chiron, son of Cronus and the Oceanid Philyra, teacher of Heracles, Achilles and Asclepius and the first to use herbs to treat diseases.

The “Argo”, also called “Pelias”, was built with wood from the forests of Pelion.

It was more systematically inhabited around the 12th century by monks. The twenty-four villages, however, began to take their current form and experience a huge flourishing in trade and literature during the Ottoman occupation due to the special privileges that were granted to them. This resulted in them becoming the propylaeum of the modern Greek enlightenment and contributing to the creation of the rich Pelion tradition, a tradition that even today one can experience when climbing the slopes of Pelion.

There are three myths of Pelion, unique stories from Greek mythology that come to life today next to running waters and inside secret caves:

PILEAS

The myth states that Peleus, from whom the mountain took its name, married the Nereid Thetis, in the cave of the Centaur Chiron, with the 12 Gods of Olympus as guests, and fathered Achilles with her.
The ensuing dispute between 3 female gods over the apple of discord led to the Trojan War.

THE CENTAURS

Pelion, the place of the Centaurs, these mythical creatures with half horse and half human bodies.
One of them, the wise teacher Chiron, mentor of great heroes of Greek mythology such as Asclepius, Achilles and Jason, whom he initiated into the secrets of music, medicine and astrology.

JASON

Returning from Pelion to Iolkos (Volos) to claim his father’s throne from Pelias, Jason lost one of his sandals while crossing a rapid river.

However, the oracle warned King Pelias to beware of “Monosandalos”, so Pelias, as soon as he saw Jason, agreed to surrender the throne if Jason brought him a golden fleece that was in Colchis and had a dragon as its sleepless guard.

With the mighty ship Argo, and a crew of the bravest of the time, Jason managed, after many adventures, to reach Colchis, seize the Golden Fleece and return to Iolcos victorious.

In 2008, a faithful replica of the Argonauts traveled to the Adriatic, bringing to life the myth of the Argonauts’ Expedition.

Sights you shouldn’t miss

Within a short distance from the 6 Keys, there are unique attractions that will fill you and your camera’s memory! Check out some of our suggestions. VOLOS – “THE CITY OF THE ARGONAUTS”

• The replica of the mythological ship “Argo”, anchored on the coastal road of Argonauts.
• The Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum of Volos. One of the oldest museums in Greece with exhibits from the Paleolithic, Minoan and Roman eras.
• The Museum of the City of Volos, which focuses on the recent history of the city.
• The Museum of Industrial History and Brick and Tile Manufacturing in the Tsalapata complex.
• The Entomological Museum of Volos, unique in Greece and one of the best in the Balkans.
• The Natural History Museum, with rocks, minerals and fossils from Thessaly and Greece in general.
• The Metropolitan Church of the city’s patron saint, Saint Nicholas, with the amazing hagiographies by Agenor Asteriades.
• The Hagiographies of Gounaropoulos in the chapel of Agia Triada. Original and unique for Greek standards, the style.
• The amazing buildings of the Conservatory Library and the Giorgio de Chirico Art Center, with frequent thematic exhibitions featuring unique collections.
• The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Panagia Trypa Goritsa) inside a cave at the foot of the hill of Goritsa.
• The Theophilos Museum, in the village of Anakasia, a few kilometers outside Volos.
• The Neolithic Settlement of Sesklou, one of the oldest settlements of the early Neolithic era, dating back to 6,800 BC.
• The Mycenaean and Neolithic settlement of Dimini from 4,800 BC.
• The “Old” area, the oldest neighborhood of Volos with a retro atmosphere.
• The traditional tsipouro restaurants that give the city its gastronomic identity.

MAKRYNITSA – “THE BALCONY OF PELION”

• The village itself (a preserved traditional settlement) with the church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos (1806) and the marble fountain in the square (1809).
• The Byzantine Museum “Oxea Episkepsis”, with valuable relics from the 13th to the 20th century.
• The Museum of Folk Art and History of Pelion at the Topali Mansion, a typical example of Pelion architecture.
• The church of Panagia (1767) with the Despotiko complex (old school) that surrounds it.
• The “Theophilos” cafe with a mural by the famous painter Theophilos Hadjimichael.

PORTARIA – “THE LADY OF PELION”

• The stone mansions, such as the Athanasakeio Kindergarten, the Zoulias mansion (former vocational school for girls), the Tsopoteio Schoolhouse (currently the Town Hall).
• The remains of the “Theoxenea” hotel, which in its time was considered the largest and most luxurious in the Balkans.
• Taps and fountains, simple, ornate or domed, scattered both on the main road and in the cobblestone streets.
• Churches and monasteries, such as the church of Agios Nikolaos with the reliefs inside, located in the village square.
• Panagia Portarea, the small 13th-century chapel that takes you on a journey to pre-revolutionary Greece, and the monastery of Agios Ioannis with its rich Byzantine decoration.
• The Kombologia Museum with a multitude of kombologia made from various materials. Many of them can be purchased.
• The “Agriolefkes” Ski Center at an altitude of 1471 meters.

MILIES – “PELION IN MICROGRAM”

• The strange church of the Great Archangels in the square, without a bell tower, with amazing frescoes that took 36 years (1741-1777) to complete and excellent acoustics (no sound can be heard from outside).
• The completely unusual and even incompatible with an Orthodox Christian church, a representation of the zodiac cycle in the church’s narthex, with the inscription “The Vain Life of the Plane World”.
• The Municipal Library of Milies. One of the oldest in Greece with volumes of books from 1497 to 1899 as well as manuscripts dating from the 10th to the 18th century.
• The Miliotiki School (1814) founded by the enlightener Anthimos Gazi. At its entrance there is the famous inscription “PSYCHIS AKOS” (Psyche Therapy).
• The folklore museum, a few meters from the central square, with the collection of local costumes and works by Theophilos.
• The old train station next to the waterfall.
• The rare metal De Chirico bridge, 1 kilometer from the station.
• The special, historical route with the open train of Pelion, the famous “Mountzouris” (classified as a preserved historical monument).
• The cave of Chiron (1,000 square meters and 10-15 meters high, very well hidden in the mountain, home of the famous Centaur Chiron, according to ancient folk legends).

VIZITSA – “THE FAIRY OF PELION”

• The village itself – a living museum of traditional Pelion architecture – and one of the best preserved traditional settlements in Greece.
• The most photographed mansions (approximately 20), some preserved to this day and others half-ruined by time, reminiscent of the grandeur of the past.
• The large paved square, with the stone-built fountain and the covered “Mousga” fountain of 1888.
• The stone-built Three-aisled Basilica Church of Zoodochos Pigi, dating from 1725, with its ancient wooden carved iconostasis in unusual blue tones and its small, hardly visible domes, with hidden, upturned jars for better acoustics.
• The magnificent natural landscape and the unique cobblestone streets that cross it and the magical view to the coast of the Pagasitikos.
• The monastery of St. John the Baptist (1789) with its magnificent frescoes.
• The “Esperides” Women’s Agrotourism Cooperative in the old elementary school with its excellent handmade sweets and jams.

TSAGARADA – “THE NAMUEL OF CENTRAL PELION”

• Its four districts, Agios Stefanos, Agia Kyriaki, Agia Paraskevi, Taxiarches, are literally lost in the greenery.
• The square of Agia Paraskevi, dominated by the famous plane tree – with a trunk circumference of 14 meters and an age that local legend puts at 1000 years. Next to it is the homonymous church (1909) and the stone fountain dating from 1890.
• The square of Agioi Taxiarches with the marble fountain with the four taps and the monumental church of 1786 with the wooden carved Venetian-style iconostasis which was completed in 1749.
• The square of Agia Kyriaki, dominated by the homonymous Church (1886) with its imposing bell tower.
• The Church of Saint Stephen, which has stood in the square of the same name since 1772, with the archpriestly throne and the special iconostasis.
• The digital interactive folklore museum at the Achillopouleio School, one of the most emblematic buildings of Pelion, built in 1864, donated by the Egyptian Achillopoule brothers, initially to house a civil school and from 1905 the commercial school.
• The imposing Nanopouleios School (the current elementary school), characterized as a work of art, donated by Nikolaos Nanopoulos in the early 20th century. Here, theatrical performances, exhibitions and other cultural events are organized every summer.
• The Kartaleio Elementary School (what is left of it) has been designated as a work of art since 1985 – with a very important role in the Tsagarada uprising against the Turks.
• The stone single-arch bridge, built in 1787, in the Mylopotamos ravine. It is estimated to be the oldest in Pelion.
• The small, incredible chapel inside the rock, on Fakistra beach, which the locals call the “hidden school”.
• The enchanting setting of the hill of “Athos” (820 meters altitude) which took its name from the chapel of Agios Athanasios en’ Athos, which is located there, surrounded by towering beech trees. An ideal place for a picnic.

DAMOUCHARI – “THE HIDDEN PARADISE”

• A small, picturesque seaside settlement, with the ruins of a castle on the peninsula, which joins the two small bays. The film “Mamma Mia 1” was filmed here.

KISSOS – “THE JEWEL OF PELION”

• The village houses – those from the 19th century with high defensive ramparts and the others from the 20th century, more extroverted, with neoclassical features – all exude the economic prosperity of the area during this particular period.
• The Church of Agia Marina in the central square, with its impressive wood-carved iconostasis.

ZAGORA – “THE AUTHENTIC PELION”

• The traditional settlement itself with its two-story mansions, stone-built cobblestone streets, traditional fountains and stone bridges. It exudes its artistic and spiritual heritage everywhere.
• The Greek Museum – the oldest school in Pelion. A boarding school of high education, where Rigas Feraios also studied.
• The library of Zagora, with a history dating back to the 18th century (1762) and a valuable collection of books.
• The Church of Agia Kyriaki, with its carved iconostasis, a representative example of the famous woodcarving of Pelion.
• The square of Agios Georgios with its huge plane trees, small cafes, taverns and the church of the same name (1765) with its gilded iconostasis and ornate pulpit.
• The Monastery of Flamouri (1564) is one of the most beautiful monasteries in Pelion that operates according to the standards of Mount Athos (women are not admitted).
• Old Mitzela. A ruined seaside settlement from the years of the Turkish occupation, hidden in the forest.
• The Agricultural Cooperative of Zagora (100 years of operation) where the famous “Zagorin” apples are produced.

BEACHES

• Mylopotamos beach, one of the most impressive and photographed beaches of Pelion.
• The beaches of the Aegean Sea: Xinovrisi, Kalamaki, Fakistra, Chorefto, Ai Giannis, Papa Nero, Agioi Saranda.
• The lacy beaches of the Pagasitic Gulf: Afissos, Lefokastro, Kalamos, Marathias, Milina, Trikeri.