Pelion is an area of extreme natural beauty found in central Greece. It is actually a high mountain that extends all over Magnesia peninsula, from the port town of Volos on one side till the Aegean Sea on the other.
On the slopes of this mountain, hundreds of small but very picturesque villages have been built. These villages are known for their traditional architecture, the stone houses and the paved streets that cross them. Most famous villages are Makrinitsa, Vizitsa, Portaria, Tsagarada and many others that amaze visitors with their special vibe. These small, mountainous villages get very popular in autumn and spring, when the surrounding nature is at its best.
The most characteristic feature of Pelion villages is their architecture. As you stroll around, you will come by many beautiful mansions that seem quite alike one to the other but also share some differences. Most mansions of Pelion have been built with stone and wood and date from the 17th century. They usually have two or three floors, wooden window cases, no balconies (expect maybe for a very small one) and they were built on a high position to view the area for enemies, which is why many of them actually look like fortresses. Wood was the material that dominated in the internal, where the common areas were found on the ground floor and the bedrooms upstairs. Only the noble and rich men would build such mansions, some of which survive till present days. They have been restored to become a Pelion hotel, a traditional restaurant or even a folklore museum today.
Nature around the villages of Pelion is lush green and wonderful. Forests with tall pine and plane trees dominate the area and you will also meet abrupt mountain sides, nice waterfalls and caves here and there. The myth says that in one of these caves Centaur Chiron used to live and teach Jason, the famous hero of the Argonautic Expedition. In fact, the whole mountain is called “the land of the Centaurs”, as they were believed to reside there. The Centaurs were some strange features of the Greek mythology, half men half horses, though wise and noble in character.
Apart from a mountainous area, Pelion is also known for its incredible beaches along the coasts of Magnesia. When the mountain ends, the beach begins on Pelion. Lush green mountains end abruptly at the point where a long, sandy coast begins, creating thus an idyllic environment. Most famous beaches are Agios Ioannis, where many nice beach bars are located among the beach, Papa Nero for pure water and Milopotamos for some quite.
Over the years, Pelion has developed its tourism facilities a lot and can now accommodate its visitors with ease and comfort. Pelion is a great area to visit all year round for different reasons each time: in summer for its amazing beaches and cool weather, and the rest of the year to admire the picturesque villages and to stroll around among pure nature…
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