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Magnesia
- Volos - Pelion Greece
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Magnesia
is located on the southeastern area of Thessaly in central Greece.
Magnesia derives its name from the Macedonian tribe name Magnetes. The
capital of the Magnesia prefecture is Volos, which is the second largest
city in Thessaly and the third busiest commercial port in Greece. Volos
lies between the beautiful and clear waters of the Pagisitikos Bay and
the evergreen slopes of Pelion mountain, which is said to be the summer
residence of the twelve Olympian gods and the mythical land of the Centaurs,
half-man and half-horse creatures who roamed the earth in mythological
stories. The mountain itself has 24 quaint villages that feature a unique
architectural style, and each are either perched on its slopes or hidden
in green ravines. The eastern side of Mt. Pelion is where the Aegean Sea
lies, and the mountain falls abruptly into the sea giving it a wonderful
characteristic of rocky coasts and sandy beaches. The peaks and slopes
of Mt. Pelion are dotted with tiny churches dedicated to saints and to
the Virgin Mary. Inside the churches are ancient relics and post-Byzantine
icons.
If
you head southeast from Volos for 8 kilometers, you will reach Agria, a
coastal suburb with a wonderfully long beach in a beautiful backsplash
of olive groves and orchards. There are several hotels and restaurants
located in Agria. Here you can visit the chapel of the Virgin of Goritsa
and view the icon screen with carved and painted scenes in the chapel of
the Holy Cross. Just 12 kilometers past Agria you will find Drakia. Drakia
is a beautiful village that boasts lush vegetation, running streams, and
very popular tower houses. The Triantaphyllou mansion, which is decorated
with paintings from the 18th century, and features carved doorways and
moulded ceilings, is considered a one-of-a-kind mansion and is most definitely
worth a visit. On August 23rd of each year, the main square, which is believed
to be the oldest in Pelion, hosts a folk festival with traditional costumes
and music.
Past
Agria is Kato and Ano Lehonia, where most of the cultivated flowers from
Pelion are grown and sold. You can literally smell the gardenias and other
flowers in the air while you sample the fresh fish, or laze in a nearby
café. Just south from Ano Lehonia is Kato Gatzea, which is a village
that offers protected beaches and is engulfed in an olive grove.
Just
20 kilometers from Volos is another charming seaside village called Kala
Nera. Here you can see leafy plane trees and many beautiful and fruitful
orchards. Just to the east is Milies. This is one of the larger villages
of Pelion and a very important cultural center. Just a while farther will
bring you to Vizitsa, a mountain village that is hidden behind beautiful
plane trees. The Pelion styled towers and magnificent old mansions have
led to Vizitsa being declared a landmark settlement that is now protected
from unseemly development.
In
Koropi, which sits on the site of the ancient city of Koropi, there are
olive groves and orchards on the road leading in, and the city is the famous
home of the Oracle of Apollo Koropaios.
To
the south, there are a number of beautiful, sandy beaches leading to Milina,
which is a very popular summer resort for Greek natives, as well as international
visitors. After Milina, the road takes you to Trikeri, which is a lovely
mansion filled village at the very peak of the Magnesia peninsula.
The
most popular archeaological sights for visiting are Pagasae, Iolcus, Demetrias,
and Nea Anchialos.
Magnesias
climate is perfect for tourism. The average temperature is 17 degrees Celcius,
or 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average rainfall amount is around 540
millimeters per year. Extreme heat or very cold temperatures are very rare
in Magnesia. During the summer months, the temperature normally reaches
around 30 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate is different
in the various regions of Magnesia, but overall the temperatures are a
very comfortable
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