Where the steep slopes of the Centaurs dive in the Aegean Sea, nature improvises in her own magical canvas the picture perfect villages and the turquoise beaches. Standing on the highest spot of the mountain, you will fill your lungs with deep breaths of mountainous air in the arms of a dense beech forest overlooking the endless blue of the sea. The consecutive hairpin roads glide over the verdant ridges of Pelion through the extensive verdant forests in order to connect even the most remote villages to the city of Volos. In this purely mountainous landscape, the paradox happens out of the blue; behind shadow forest curtains and steep rocky slopes, a redemptive deep blue sea emerges in all its shades and manifestations.The picturesque villages of Pelion acquire an authentic identity in winter with wild characteristics of untamed beauty. From lovely Makrinitsa village that is buried in fog and the snowish slopes of Agriolefkes to the deserted square of Tsagarada village and the cozy kafenia of Lafkos and Neohori, where the elders rest, winter is reserved for a very diffent experience in Pelion. Blizzards break with obsession through Hania village, and, sometimes, abruptly cover Pelion with a white coat of snow. Those gray days when the storms sweep the villages of eastern Pelion, land sky and sea seem to become one, as if winter has allied with the mountain to tryout Pelion’s strenght.However, when the first flowers bloom on the seashore, the colorful carpet tranforms Pelion into a canvas of the Rennaisance period. The spring extravaganza will take your breath away and fill it with scents of herbs and aromatic plants. Upon the magic of Agios Lavrentios and Vizitsa, the eye rests on the blooming trees immersed in the verdant landscapes of Milies legendary train station. The cobblestone squares and the traditional stone houses of Portaria and Makrinitsa complement the landscapes of the Pelion villages with their picturesque identity by overlooking the blueish shadows of Volos city. Pelion is such a blessed place; running waters, spring creeks running through gullies and tumbling from heights into steep waterfalls on the entire peninsula of Pelion seem like they have sprung out of a fairytale.From the botanical gardens of the springs, vegetation is kept lush and exuberant throughout the summer starlighted from the turquoise waters of lovely Pelion. A labyrinthine road slips through the eastern slopes of the legendary mountain unveiling lush landscapes towards the beautiful villages of Eastern Pelion. Even here, however, in the most secret part of the dense forest, the Aegean plays with its restless blue in the loveliest way. From the remote coasts of Mylopotamos, the pebbles of Damouhari and the turquoise cove of Fakistra to the nobility of Zagora, Kissos, Mouresi and Tsagarada villages, nature reveals a splendid natural field masterfully flirting with the mountain and the sea. A wonderful world unveils its mysteries under the sun of the summer transforming Pelion into a natural paradise where even the most discerning travellers will find the shore of their dreams to dive in. Nonetheless, nothing could be left out from Pelion, even the island character of Trikeri, a lovely village with the charm of neighboring Pelion mountain and the charisma of the island serenity overlooking Pagasetic Gulf. The labyrinthine road climbs with secussive turns in a rather indifferent landscapes, where the horizon is lost. The seaside asphalt road that leads to the southern side of this fairytale has an indented coastline with millions of beaches; picturesque Agia Kyriaki, beautiful Mavri Petra, lovely Milina, verdant Horto, spectacular Afyssos and Lefokastro and the list never ends.The morning fog of Portaria, though, celebrates the beginning of autumn inviting travellers to explore the historical paths of the Centaurs. Nature dresses in the most golden, yellow and orangeful colours to guide you to its unbelievable beauties through a ride with legendary “Moutzouris” train.Unquestionably, this corner of Magnesia is gifted by nature and crafted by human for centuries.Blessed from mythological stories, imagination created legendary creatures whose stories never stopped over the centuries, as they were mentioned in the written and oral tradition of Pelion’s own history. Gods and saints, demons and goblins, witches and fairies connect their existence to the imagination and the customs of the inhabitants with infinite names, chapels, fountains and rhymed settlements. Although the primal magic of these fairytales faded away though time, the avid travellers will manage to discover the authentic face of the beautiful mountain of the Centaurs by wandering on forest roads, gasping on uphill settlements and strolling around cobblestone alleys.If there is a paradise on earth, Pelion must be it, as Pelion is where the magic happens!

On the craggy slopes of the Centaurs’ mythical mountain, two of the loveliest villages of Pelion, Makrinitsa and Portaria, compete with their picturesque character on which is the most beautiful of all. Overlooking the calm sea of Pagasetic Gulf and the beautiful city of Volos, those two villages create magical sceneries; where the rich alternation of nature between the blue of the sea and the mountain thrives, Portaria and Makrinitsa with their cobblestone squares, the traditional Pelion architecture mansions and the narrow stone alleys will challenge you to experience one of the most authentic sides of the Greek countryside.Starting from the center of Volos, such a lovely city, the distinctive road signs will guide you to the villages of Central Pelion. The hairpin asphalt road, with its wooded slopes, its steep mountaintops and its abrupt twists and turns, will guide you through majestic Pelion. Passing through Anakasia with the museum of Theofilos, the famous painter, the splendid neighborhoods of Ano Volos and verdant Katihori, you will finally arrive at picturesque Portaria, the gate of the mountain of the Centaurs. Undenianly, Portaria is one of the most beloved destinations of Pelion; wander around the square of Melina Mercouri, where you can enjoy a hot coffee under the coolness of the plane trees trees, lose your way in the labyrinthine alleys of the village to explore the beautiful trails and the stone fountains and pay your respects to the historic church of Panagia Portarea (1276) who gave her name to the settlement. Upon arriving in stately Makrinitsa, the balcony of Pelion, we left our car in the square with the huge plane trees, as the village is a fairytale that cars are prohibited to enter its enchanted atmosphere. Truth is that such a lovely village is hard to find; stone mansions build from the Epirus craftsmen with the traditional architecture of Pelion, marvelous stone fountains where the “immortal water” comes out from the mouth of bronze lions (1809), and the splendid cobblestone square of Makrinitsa famous for its sunset views of the city of Volos and the Gulf of Pagasetic will travel you to the glorious past of this village. In fact, Makrinitsa has been declared as a preserved village from the Ministry of Culture since 1980. It is also well worth visiting the Pelion Folklore Museum (1844), housed in Topali traditional mansion that has been declared as a monument of historical importance, which exhibits a great collection of the rich folklore history of Pelion. Continue strolling around the grassy paths to find you own space of freedom towards the neighborhoods of Koukouravas and Agios Gerasimos, and, if you are an adventurer, you will visit the monastery of Agios Gerasimos, on the highest point of Makrinitsa, for enjoying the most privileged views of the gate of Pelion!

The nobility of Eastern Pelion’ villages of may have nested long enough in the neighborhoods of your dreams. Pelion is where the magic happens! By facing the beating waves of the wintertime in Horefto and Agios Ioannis, the paths of Zagora and Tsagarada strapped in green and the steep slopes of traditional Pelion architecture mansions of Kissos and Agios Dimitrios, you know that this is not your dream anymore. Where the endless blue of the Aegean Sea meets the wildreness of the Centaurs’ mountain, Eastern Pelion guides you through its million shades of turquoise colours. The mountainous road glimpses through the eastern slopes of legendary Pelion through verdant and lush landscapes with direction to the beautiful villages of Zagora, Makrirachi, Agios Dimitrios, Kissos, Mouresi and Tsagarada with panoramic vistas towards the sea. The alternation of all this altitude between the villages of Eastern Pelion may help even nature to lose compass. Between the mountain and the sea, the sceneries of Eastern Pelion will take your breath away. The exploration starts from Volos city towards Hania village with the renowned Agriolefkes Ski Center, one of the most spectacular ski centers of the country, where you can slide your skis like a pro with a view to the sea; can you imagine? Perched at an an altitude of 1200m, one of the highest locations of Pelion, Hania distinguishes for its lush vegetation of chestnut and fir trees with panoramic vistas towards the Pagasetic Gulf. Next stop was Zagora, the largest and oldest village of Eastern Pelion. Famous for its delicious apples, Zagora is an ideal winter destination with lovely guesthouses under the foggy atmosphere. It is a very charming village with traditional mansions, made with love and care from the local craftsmen, that will travel you back to the glorious past of Zagora. It is well worth the visit to the School Of Rigas Feraios (1777), the oldest school of Pelion, the Zagora Public Library that features a collection of valuable book collections and rare manuscripts as well as the Agios Georgios Church that was founded from the Patriarch of Constantinople. Following the road towards the seaport of Zagora, namely Horefto, you will be enchanted from the whitish landscape of the emerald waters of the beach. While the wind blowed away, the desertness of the winter created spectacular sceneries surrounded from a verdant forest painted in the colours of February. If you are an adventure lover, drive the seaside route towards Parisaina, Tourkou and Analipsi beaches to enjoy the serenity of the Aegean Sea. One of our favorite mysteries is hidden in Omvrios cove that looks like lost in the woods! Heading towards Agioi Saranta, the charming village of Makrirahi popped up in a region with lush vegetation and incredible views to the Aegean Sea. Characterized as the flower village, Makrirahi is known for its distinctive flower scents; gardenias, magnolias and camellias flourish in the village, especially because of the love and care from the Horticultural Women of Makrirachi Association “Gardenia”. Divided from Makrirahi by the great ravine Mega Rema, Anilio is our next stop whose name literally translates to “hidden from the sun”. Nestling in the heart of Eastern Pelion, Anilio is surrounded from million of fruits trees offering refreshing breaths of oxygen in landscapes of immense natural beauty. Whichever season you visit Anilio, it is definite that you will not be left disappointed. It is worth mentioning that local traditions claim that the ancient city of Achillion, whose founder was the Homeric Achilles, was located on the outskirts of Anilio! Four kilometers away, we found the mountain village of Agios Dimitrios with its amazing views to the Aegean Sea. The feeling of serenity surpassed our body and souls! Traditional houses and lovely mansions create a wonderful character of picturesqueness that will make you want to explore the entire region of Pelion. Another alternative for exploring is the dense network of Pelion’cobblestoned trails ideal for hiking aficionados; such an inspiring experience! It is well worth knowing that many monasteries existed in Agios Dimitrios in its heyday, around which settlements were developed; one of these is the homonymous church of Agios Dimitrios (1934), the biggest metropolitan church of Eastern Pelion. If you are looking for a place to relax, head to the paved square of Xirovrisi settlement with its stone fountains! Upon arriving on Kissos, your eyes will be captivated from the rich vegetation. Characterized as one of the quietest villages of Eastern Pelion, Kissos enjoys wonderful views towards the Aegean Sea and Pelion Mountain. Its combination between the sea and the mountain creates an ideal destination for all year round. Kissos’ most important monument is the church of Agia Marina, one of the finest basilicas of Pelion, which was built from Epirus’ craftsmen during the 17th century. At last, we will reveal to you one of our mysteries; depending on weather conditions, we would advise you to follow the cobbled kalderimi path towards Hania to discover the genuine beauty of Pelion’ nature! This part, however, is the one of which we were waiting so long; pristine, beautiful, turquoise, infinite Agios Ioannis. This fairytale location where the endless blue of the sea seem to have been lost in the horizon was marvelous. Although it is a summetime gem, it looks even more spectacular in February. The silence of nothingness in such a dreamy scenery where the protagonist is none other than Mother Nature could be only fantastic. Wander on the vastness of Agios Ioannis’ sand and pebbles, search for your favorite heart-shaped pebble and admire the crystal clean Aegean waters that have been awarded with the Blue flag. If you have time for explorations, visit the lovely beaches of Papa Nero and Plaka on the southern and northern sides of Agios Ioannis to understand the reason why Pelion is such a blessed place, the paradise on earth. Twelve minutes later, we arrived in one of the oldest villages of Pelion with its superb views towards the mountain and the sea. Stroll around the cobblestone pathways of Mouresi to admire the Pelion architecture where the houses are scattered around the mountain hills. A must visit is the Digital and Miniature Museum where an interesting folklore collection showcases the glorious past of Pelion in in digital interactive three-dimensional shape and various physical exhibits in miniature form. Lovers of adventure, though, can hike the cobbled trail towards the neighbooring village of Tsagarada, our next stop. Lovely, charming and beautiful Tsagarada is one of the most beautiful villages of Pelion! Hidden behing sceneries of lust vegetation, Tsagarada enjoy a panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and the mountain slopes of Pelion Mountain. Traditional houses and elegant mansions of the traditional architecture of Pelion give a nostalgic atmosphere to the region. We shall recommend visiting the square of Agia Paraskevi to discover the thousand-year-old plane tree that will impress you with its huge size where you can enjoy your coffee with a lovely view to the Pelion countryside. One can also visit the homonymous church (1909) that distinguishes for its impressive wall paintings and its carved iconostasis. Agia Kyriaki Square is reserved for a more tranquil promenade, where travellers will be spellbound from the impressive bell tower of the homonymous church. It is also worth visiting the Nanopouleio School, one of the most historical buildings of Pelion. Lovers of natural explorations should definitely explore Mylopotamos, Fakistra and Labinou beaches, three of the most beautiful beaches of Pelion if not the Aegean.On our way back to Portaria, we decided to use the new asphalt road from Kissos through Agriolefkes Ski Center. Undeniably, this was the best surprise of all! Huge deciduous trees adorned the entire driving route, one of the most interesting in Pelion, with unimaginable views. Every corner hid another mystery! Unfortunately for you, we will not reveal it to you, as we wish for you to travel to Pelion and experience it by yourself!

In the purely mountainous paradise of Pelion, the consecutive hairpin roads glide over the verdant ridges of Pelion through the verdant forests in order to connect even the most remote villages t0 the city of Volos. In this purely mountainous landscape, shadow forest curtains and steep rocky slopes hide the redemptive deep blue sea that emerges in all its shades. Central Pelion’ villages reveal a picturesquene character with stone mansion under the aura of serenity. Crossing the city of Volos with direction to the villages of Pagasetic Gulf, nothing can predispose the travellers that will discover; passing through the lively town of Agria, once the trading port of the region where ships were filled with products from the land of the Centaurs, the consecutive swirls with the million of trees leads to the peaceful hideaway of Drakia.The village welcomes the travellers with cobblestone alleys and flowery courtyards, even in the heart of wintertime. The settlement played an important role in the 1821 Greek Revolution, which resulted into the execution of 118 villagers from the Nazi forces; a cenotaph memorial has been erected to honor the patriots who lost their lives. Invisible from the sea, and surrounded from lush vegetation, this lovely village was constructed from the famous craftsmen of Epirus who widespread their craftsmanship to other villages, and those stone marvel villages appeared. In Drakia, the avid travellers will find one of the oldest schools of Pelion where ancient documents are held dating back to the Ottoman Empire, the Agios Spyridon Church with the finely carved iconostasis as well as an interesting collection of folklore items in Drakia’s Folklore Museum of Cultural Heritage. Wander around the squares of Drakia village, among the oldest squares in Pelion, and explore the scenic paths of the village with the flowing streams. If you are a lover of photography, you will have the opportunity to admire mansions of the Pelion architecture and capture moments of another era! One of our mysteries for Drakia; it is worth visiting the chapel of Agios Spyridon for the amazing ride and the spectacular views! Opposite Drakia village, accessible only by a stonepaved promenade, nestles the stone village of Agios Lavrentios. Upon arriving, an indescribable feeling of travelling in the past will overpower your soul. Agios Lavrentios seems to have been unchanged over time; from lovely Hatzini Cobblestone Square with its views to the village, the Cave of Centaur Chiron with its mystical atmosphere and the stone neighborhoods to Agios Demetrios Cathedral with its elaborate wood-carved temple, Agios Lavrentios Monastery with its byzantine character, Manthos Mansion with its diverse architectural character and Glavanis Mansion with the gorgeous wooden balconies, Agios Lavrentios will spellbound you! Continuing the exploration, we finally arrived at the charming settlement of Ano (Upper) Lehonia. Famous for the train station of legendary “Moutzouris”, this Pelion village has a series of important monuments worth exploring including the chateaus of Olympios and Koskolis that were built during the Ottoman Empire, the historic neoclassical mansions of Kontos, Kassiopoulos, Hatzistamatiou and Bakalis families, the old silk factory of Koutoupis and the old oil press of Gergoudis. Of special significance is also the Ceramic Pottery Museum of Anetopoulos with an interesting collection of folklore pottery items. After a stop for a hot coffee at the relaxing square of Agios Vlasios, we discovered Agios Georgios Nileias. This lovely settlement is one of the most authentic villages of Pelion; stone houses are nestling on the mountain slopes with panoramic vistas over the Pagesetic Gulf! Built at an altitude of 620 meters, Agios Georgios Nileias is the highest village of Pelion that exudes an atmosphere of peacefulness surrounded from dense vegetation of chestnut, apple, olive, cherry and beech trees. Nature trails and hiking paths are crossed from fountains and streams with crystal waters leading to the forested lands of the Centaurs’ mountain, such an ideal escape for hiking aficionados! The first and most important monument worth visiting is Agios Georgios Church that distinguishes for its impressive stone bell tower with its old reliefs; within the premises of the church, you can also visit the Ecclesiastical Museum where a wonderful collection of ancient religious artifacts is exhibited. The houses of the village are known for their exceptional craftsmanship, including Ioannidis Mansion (1888), one of the finest examples of Pelion architecture. Head to the central square of Agios Georgios Nileias to quench your thirst with water coming from the marble fountain, and pay your visit to the Museum of Scupltor Nicholas that showcases an art collection of the most representative works of the local sculptor Nicholas Pavlopoulos. Before you leave, head to the open theater “Aloni” to enjoy the spectacular views! Four kilometers away, our eyes were mesmerized from the picturesqueness of Pinakates. With striking views to the sea, this lovely settlement is a must visit as it has been declared as a preserved village from the Ministry of Culture. Authentic, simple, genuine and scenic Pinakates will travel you back in time when Pelion was as traditional as it gets. From cobblestone alleys and kalderimi pathways to stone mansions and old houses, Pinakates is a genuine stone marvel as it has managed to preserve its picturesque character and its traditional identity. Upon leaving from this lovely settlement, it is definite that you will feel like you have walked in the glorious past of Pelion, especially if you visit the chapel of Agia Kyriaki in order to admire its wonderful views.Vizitsa, though, has nothing to envy from Pinakates since this village has also been declared as a preserved settlement from the Ministry of Culture. A promenade around the cobblestone alleys, the restored mansions, the traditional Pelion houses, the stone fountains and the verdant vegetation of the settlement will guide you through the beauties of Vizitsa. Lose your way through the cobblestoned pathways to discover the stone houses and the marble fountains, visit the monastery of Agios Ioannis Prodromos (1789) with its inspiring murals and refresh yourself by drinking water from the stone fountain “Mousga” (1888). If you are looking for something extraordinary, walk your way to the kalderimi pathway next to Zoodohos Pigi Church towards the waterfalls, the traditional district of Argyraika and the seaside settlement of Kala Nera or follow the hiking trail that leads to Milies Train Station, one of the most beautiful routes in Pelion. Undeniably, Milies is one of the most authentic villages of Pelion; its traditional identity in combination with its exceptional natural beauty will make you fall in love with this lovely settlement. Great names of the enlightment era were born in this village including Anthimos Gazis, Daniil Filippidis and Grigorios Konstantas, who were also the founders of the Miliotiki (Milies) school “Psichis Akos” meaning Soul Therapy in 1814 and having its library surviving until today (Discoverpelio.com, 2016). Avid travellers will have a series of monuments to explore! Milies Train Station is the most recognized attraction; constructed in the 19^th century from Evaristo de Chirico, “Moutzouris” railway line offers an experience of a lifetime through the scenic route of Ano Lehonia – Milies (May to October). Pay your respects to the Pammegiston Taxiarhon Church that features stunning Byzantine frescoes, visit the Public Library of Milies where you will have the opportunity to admire artifacts from Miliotiki School as well as the Folklore Museum of Milies with a collection of folklore artifacts and paintings from famous painter Theofilos. The exploration of Central Pelion is, unquestionably, one of the most beautiful explorations in Pelion, and we strongly recommend it!

Nothing could be left out from Pelion, even Southern Pelion with the picturesqueness of Lafkos, the indented coastline of Milina and the island character of Trikeri. The seaside asphalt road that leads to the southern side of this fairytale has an indented coastline with millions of beaches; from picturesque Agia Kyriaki, beautiful Mavri Petra and verdant Horto to spectacular Afyssos and Lefokastro, Southern Pelion hides millions of mysteries. Our exploration started from lovely Milies to traditional Neohori, a wonderful driving route. Surrounded from the slopes of the Centaurs’ mountain, covered with fog and mist, nature embraces every aspect of this lovely settlement. It is worth mentioning that Neohori is famous for its quarries, from which the famous Pelion slabs and stones are mined, a key ingredient of the traditional Pelion architecture ( Discoverpelio.com , 2016). So, we strolled around the village through its scenic pathways to admire the stone mansions of Pelion architecture as well as Agios Dimitrios Church, the patron saint of the village, an architectural marvel of the 18^th century whose interior is decorated with wonderful frescoes from the famous Epirus painter Ioannis Pagonis. A few steps further, we arrived at the lovely square of Neohori with its aged plane trees and its stone fountains, and admired its magnificent views of the endless blue of the Sea extending from the Pagasetic Gulf to the Aegean Sea. Although the weather was foggy and rainy, we very much enjoyed the promenade since it gave a distinct sparkle to our journey. Silver olive groves, perennial plane trees, citrus trees with their fragrant fruits, hundreds of healing herbs, and blossoming bouquets of camellias, gardenias and hydrangeas guide us through the wonderful sceneries of the southern part of Pelion. Upon entering its capital, the village of Argalasti, where the great Greek poet Kostas Varnalis used to teach in Parthenagogeion School, we immediately saw the impressive marble belfry of Agioi Apostoloi Church. Tradition has it that the village’s name | “arga (slow) + elauno (passing)” | was inspired from the story that Jason’s Argo passed from this settlement on their journey to Colchis. Next stop was Lafkos, one of the most authentic villages of Pelion with wonderful views to the seaside village of Milina and the Pagasetic Gulf. Its cobblestoned square with its shady trees and its scenic cobbled alleys with its old stone mansions with their neoclassical influences and its traditional fountains exudes an atmosphere of nobility, since a promenade around the village offers an wonderful experience to understand how life in Pelion used to be in the past. It is well worth visiting the church of Panagia with its wonderful bell tower as well as the Fampeio Museum of Art where you will discover exquisite sculptures from white Pelion marble made by local painter and sculptor Thanassis Fampas. Lafkos Radio Museum “Antonis Tavanis” is a must visit; it is housed in a two floor neoclassical mansion of 1890 showcasing a great collection of rare and valuable radiophones from all over the world, donated by the German philhellene Wilfred Shoeps ( Discoverpelio.com , 2016). Under the foggy atmosphere of the winter, we drove to the seaside village of Milina that radiated feelings of nostalgia and melancholy; the strong waves of the sea, which reached 6 degrees on a Beaufort scale, seem like they were trying to “smash” the cobblestone pavement and, all of the sudden, Pelion initiated these feelings of such a lonely winter. Throughout the coastline from Milina towards Trikeri, a unique driving route worth exploring, the sceneries were so wild and fierce. The olive trees were dangling in accordance with the direction of the wind, the endless blue of the sea was disturbed from the agressiveness of the wind and the hairpin asphalt road was unveiling enthralling sceneries we could have not imagine. From the steep rocks of Pelion peninsula to the sheer slopes of Pelion mountain, the island character of Trikeri stole our hearts; a lovely village with the charm of neighboring Pelion mountain and the charisma of the island serenity overlooking Pagasetic Gulf could be nothing less than spectacular. Hidden behind the mistry air, the labyrinthine road climbed with secussive turns in rather indifferent landscapes, where the horizon was lost. Once an important maritime center and home to famous sponge harvesters, the whitewashed houses, captains mansions and the cobblestone alleys will travel you to the glorious times of the remarkable naval tradition of Trikeri.

Pelion is a timeless destination. Upon the trails of the Centaurs, the seasons shuffle the unique beauty of Pelion under the aura of the Aegean caused from the explosion of nature.With bright sunshine, purifying snowfall and strong storms through the rays of the sun, the mist, the fog and the snow-white veils of winter, the landscape of Pelion emits a unique charm every season. Even if our travel experience was set out on the beginning of February, we will visit fairytale Pelion in a few months to admire its verdant vegetation and its spectacular colours. Although the primal magic of the fairytales of Pelion faded away though time, we managed to discover the authentic face of the beautiful mountain of the Centaurs by wandering on forest roads, gasping on uphill settlements and strolling around cobblestone alleys. After all, if there is a paradise on earth, Pelion must be it. Don’t ever forget that Pelion is where the magic happens. Only then, you will manage to discover Pelion!