An Insider’s Point of View
Interviews For You
Background of Pepy Kandartzy

I was born in Volos a beautiful seaside town at the foot of Mt. Pelion. So, throughout my childhood and adolescence, Pelion was my family’s favourite destination for holidays, as well as winter and summer activities.

 

Pelion Through The Eyes of Pepy Kandartzy

Magical, spectacular, fairytale, traditional, stunning and the list never ends; could you describe Pelion in five words?

Fascinating, surprising, unique, picturesque, colourful

Pelion is one of the most beautiful destinations of Thessaly! However, the majority of visitors seem to overlook the wider beauty of the region of Pelion. Could you please advice the travellers of Mysterious Greece on the best things they can do during their stay in the region of Pelion?

It depends on the season of the year they find themselves in Pelion. In winter they can visit “Hania” a winter resort with a ski-centre and taverns with traditional food, in spring they can stroll around villages of eastern Pelion hidden in verdure listening to melodiously flowing waters, in the summer they can swim in turquoise waters and enjoy the striking sunsets and in the autumn they should get on the steam train “Moutzouris” form Lehonia to Milies enjoying the rainbow coloured scenery.

From the lovely square of Tsagarada, the stone houses of Portaria and Vizitsa and the train station of Milies with Moutzouris train to the ski center of Hania, the turquoise waters of Mylopotamos, the view of Volos from Makrinitsa, the region of Pelion hides millions of mysteries. If you had to choose your favorite location in Pelion, what would that be?

My favourite location is “Pinakates” a village  almost untouched by men on the southern slopes of Pelion with a small central square sheltered by a big plane tree. Also, in the summer my favourite spot is the quiet, serene village “Lambinou” 6 k.m south of Xourihti. One drives past the Panaghia Lambidona Monastery and then reaches the Ammos beach with clear blue waters and a stunning view of the Aegean.

Pelion is an all-year-round destination! Every season, the colors transform the sceneries of the mountain of the Centaurs! Which is your favorite season in Pelion?

My favourite season is spring when wild flowers and herbs offer scent, the nature is reborn, the temperature is mild and you can enjoy your walks admiring the authentic clear scenery.  

Could you please give two to three reasons that the travellers of Mysterious Greece should travel to Pelion?

Pelion is the only destination in Greece which combines mountain and sea resorts. One can also find a great range of  biodiversity, which makes the place unique.  

Although Pelion is one of the most famous resorts of Greece, it has an unexplored side unknown to the majority of people. If you were going to give advice to the travellers of Mysterious Greece, where would you recommend them to go to acquire a complete image of the beauty of the wider region of Pelion?

They can either go to the villages overlooking the Pagasetic Gulf, such as Afissos, Argalasti, Lafko, Milina, Horto to the most distant fishing village Platanias, just opposite Skiathos   island, which one can reach by boat in just a quarter of time, or explore the villages overlooking the Aegean, such as Tsagarada, Kissos, Mouresi, Anilio, Zagora to the most distant village Pouri, in the three-levelled central square of which, one can admire the church of St. Dimitrios and then go downhill, only to arrive at Vrios beach which is surrounded by plane trees.    

Not even half an hour away from the region of villages of Pelion, one will find the lovely city of Volos! Have you ever visited this city? If yes, could you please describe to us your experience?

Volos is my hometown, which I love and where I have spent happy and  interesting  schoolyears, shared true friendships and indulged in different activities.   So, whenever I visit Volos, I meet old friends, go for a walk along the beautiful seafront, have lunch in the traditional taverns, called “tsipouradika”, or have a cup of coffee in the cafes along the pedestrianized streets around Ermou St. and St. Nicholas Church. However, Volos is not a town only for leisure. There are a lot of cultural events at the Demotic Theatre and the Centre of historic documentation, as well as   periodical exhibitions at the Giorgio de Chirico Art Centre.    
Describe to us your top 5 List for things to do in the region of Pelion!

  1. Enjoying your coffee at Makrinitsa, the balcony of the Pagasetic Gulf!
  2. Skiing down the slopes of “Agriolefkes”!
  3. Swimming in the blue waters of “Fakistra” the amazing beach beneath “Tsagarada”!
  4. Walking in springtime down the paved path from “Mouresi” to “Damouhari”!
  5. Taking a ride on the steam train “Moutzouris” from “Lehonia “ to “Milies”!
What’s your favorite sunset spot in Pelion?

My favourite sunset spot is on the Ambovos beach next to Afissos fishing village.

Concerning the gastronomic experience of Pelion, could you please advice us two to five of your favorite taverns and restaurants?

  • “Papadis” “Tsipouradiko” at the seafront of Volos
  • “O Palios Stathmos” a traditional tavern in “Milies”
  • “Skourgias” a fishing tavern in “Kato Gatzea”
  • Tavern-Grill Restaurant “Synantisis” in Kissos

Please describe to us an unforgettable moment of yours in Pelion!

I was having holidays in “Xinovrisi” a little village in Eastern Pelion. It was mid-August and I was with friends at “Potistika” a beautiful, pebbled beach. Suddenly, we saw the most amazing phenomenon ever! The golden sun was diving in the sea in the west and at the same time the red moon was rising from the sea in the east!  

According to your opinion, which is the must-visit monument in the region of Pelion?

The Museum of Theofilos the famous Greek folk painter at “Anakasia” village!

Share with us your mystery!

I can only quote the words of   Menelaos Loudemis a great Greek writer : “Anyone who has not seen Volos, should definitely visit this place, because this town is a gift of life that if you forget to enjoy, you have forgotten why you were born”

This space is just for you! Please feel free to add anything you think that was missing from the questionnaire!

Keramidi and Veneto are two villages situated in the most northern part of Mt. Pelion and although not being as famous as other Pelion villages, are equally magical and picturesque.

The traditional village of Keramidi combines the mountainous landscape with the blue of the Aegean Sea beneath it.Three successive paved squares built from local stone dominate the centre of the village:

  • The central square, or “Alonaki” with its towering planes
  • The square of St. George founded in 1787
  • The square of the school with its loose cypresses and the magnificent view of the Aegean Sea

If you would like to swim, you can go to the glorious beach of Kamari just 4 km   away.

Veneto, a scenic mountain village is drowned in lush vegetation with oak, plane, chestnut and walnut trees. Worth visiting is the church of “Presentation of Jesus at the Temple” built in 1767 with its beautiful woodcarved temple and the Flamouriou Monastery in the outskirts of the village.The area has been known since ancient times and was called “Ipnoi”.

Furthermore, it is worth seeing the Petromelisso glamorous beach of the village characterized by its white pebble, the rocky nature and the dense vegetation surrounding the bay.

Also, for those interested in archaeology, the places to visit are the prehistoric settlements Dimini and Sesklo on the western edge of the plain of Volos. Among their archaeological remains (architecture, pottery, tools, figurines,  jewellery) all cultural achievements of the Aegean society of the late Neolithic Period, are reflected and characterized by the first researchers of Greek prehistory. Most of the findings in those settlements are exhibited at the Athanasakeio  Archaeological   Museum of Volos in such a way that they allow the visitor to have a more direct contact with the antiquities and comprehend their function easier.