Explore Pelion

Itinerary

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Day 1: Athens to Anakasia, Portaria overnight in Makrinitsa

Anakasia is a traditional village built at the foot of Mount Pelion. It is close to villages of Portaria and Makrinitsa. Old mansions, paved alleyways, stone built water fountains and running water, is among the most picturesque villages of Pelion.

The major attraction of the village is certainly the Theophilos Museum, housed in the residence Condou, northeast of the central square of Anakasia, where you can admire the art of the popular painter Theofilos.

On the walls of the museum there are splendid frescoes themes taken from the Greek Revolution, tradition and antiquity. Motifs of flowers, birds and hunting scenes, heroes of ’21, ancient gods and landscapes of Volos are among the paintings in the museum.

In Portaria a visit to the Source Manas, the largest source of Northwest Pelion is worthy. Gorgeous village, sited among trees with the waterfall Karavo. Necessary is the passage from the main square “Melina Mercouri” with the stone fountain. It is the square of the Archangels with panoramic view of the city of Volos.

The route from Portaria leads us to the community of Makrinitsa, the “balcony of Pelion” as we call it. In the central square you will see the perennial plane tree and the church of St. John the Baptist. Beside of the church there is a marble fountain called the ‘fountain of youth’.

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Day 2: From Makrinitsa to Hania, Tsangarada and Zagora overnight

Hania is a small village in one of the highest points of Pelion. The village is built at an altitude of 1,200 meters, surrounded by forests of beech and chestnut, only 2 km from the ski center “Agrioleukes” (1,529 m). Hania is a base for winter sports and an ideal place for” cool “summer vacation. The number of hostels, known as the “khans”, where old travelers found accommodation, consolidated the name of the village. Today gathers tourists who love the mountain environment and the activities of the mountain.

At an altitude of 500 meters and 54 kilometers from the city of Volos, there is the gorgeous village of Tsagarada. The village is probably the most famous place of Pelion, surrounded by trees, flowers, gardens and waters and offers a stunning view of the Aegean. Tsagarada is the capital of the municipality Mouresiou consisting of four districts:
• Archangels, the oldest settlement
• Agia Paraskevi
• Agios Stefanos
• Agia Kyriaki

Zagora is one of the largest villages of Pelion. It is a mountainous village located 47 km northeast of Volos. It is built in a superb location with rich alternations, forests and streams that create landscapes of infinite beauty. Zagora was an important cultural and commercial center during the 17th and 18th century . During this period the silk fabrics gave prosperity in the region. The many well-preserved mansions of Zagora are testify the growth of the village.

Visit the churches of Agia Paraskevi founded in 1803, the church of St. George, which dates from 1765 and is located in the central square and the church of Agia Kyriaki founded in 1740 which is distinguished by its wooden temple and frescoes. Zagora has the most famous apples in the world.

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Day 3: Zagora, Agios Ioannis, Mylopotamos, Tsangarada overnight

Cosmopolitan resort of East Pelion, Agios Ioannis (St. John) is built on a beautiful beach with white pearl pebbles. Emerald waters and red roofs lost in the deep green are creating the most charming landscape. Surrounded by two beautiful beaches of Plaka and Papa Nero, Agios Ioannis attracts thousands of visitors.

Mylopotamos is the most famous beach in Greece and has been photographed by many international magazines. The beach is divided in two by a huge rock with a hole in its center, which offers protection from wind and sun shade.

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Day 4: Tsangarada, Milies, Vyzitsa overnight

Milies is the most famous village of the area, surrounded by apple trees (the meaning of the village name), chestnut and olive trees, with lovely view over the Pagassitikos bay and the southern Pelion. The square of the village is surrounded by characteristic buildings such as the Church of the Archangels.

The Church of the Archangels was built in the 18th century. The outside of the church was made without bell tower and other religious symbols in order not to betray (during the Ottoman domination) the real purpose of the building. The construction and completion of the internal lasted 30 years. On the village there is a railway terminal which was built in the 19th century. The station area is considered as one of the most important sights of Pelion. The construction was made by the Italian engineer Evaristo de Chirico, father of the famous surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico, who captured the figure of the little train in some of his most famous paintings.

Vyzitsa is one of the best preserved traditional Greek villages, with many mansions, good network of cobbled streets that cross the entire village and a unique natural environment, with panoramic view of the Pagassitikos bay. You can visit the monastery of St. John the Baptist which was built in 1789, the church of Athos, the town square with the fountain “Mousga” built in 1888.

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Day 5: Vyzitsa, Volos, Thermopylae back to Athens

In the morning you have time to explore Vyzitsa and then to enjoy lunch to the city of Volos. In the way back to Athens we will make a short stop to Thermopylae to see Leonidas statue. Thermopulae is the place where 300 Spartans sacrificed themselves fighting against a massive Persian army.

Alternative Tour Options:
There are so many other things to see in this area. Keep in mind that your driver is at your disposal, so if you would like to adjust the proposed itinerary at all, just let him know!