In Central Greece, at an area called Thessalia and near the town of Volos there is mountain Pelion. Pelion was considered to be the home of the Centaurs. It is a unique place to visit all year round. The villages on mountain Pelion are very picturesque with great architecture and incredible nature. In the region, one can do a lot of activities like hiking, horseback riding and skiing. In the summer months. one can also visit the incredible beaches of the area.
Three of the most popular villages of Pelion that are very close to Volos are Portaria, Makrinitsa and Hania.
Portaria is only 12km away from the city of Volos. It offers panoramic views of the city and the Pagasetic Gulf. It is a picturesque village with traditional houses and mansions. There are many traditional guesthouses along with hotels that cover every taste. Also, there is a variety of restaurants serving local food, as well as cafes and bars. In the narrow streets of the village, one can find shops selling souvenirs, folk art and spoon desserts made from local fruits.
One of the things that is worth doing is walk the path of Centaurs. It is a 3km walk that starts from the church of Agia Marina at the entrance of the village and goes around it passing through beautiful churches, mansions and incredible nature. It is worth visiting the museum of folk art in the Zulia mansion and the little squares around the village.
As you climb further up the mountain you will arrive at another traditional village called Makrinitsa only 3 km away. You can do that on foot as well, it takes less than half and hour and it’s a very pleasant walk.
Makrinitsa is also called “The balcony of Pelion” due to the incredible views from the village. The village has many traditional houses and mansions and along with the villages of Vizitsa and Pinakates has been declared as a preserved village. Just as in Portaria, here you will find beautiful guesthouses and many choices for food and drink. There are also some shops selling traditional products.
One of the major sites in the village is the Pelion Museum of Folklore and History located in Topali mansion. There you will see more than 1500 artifacts from the everyday life in Pelion.
Another thing worth doing is to stroll through the pebble roads of the village and discover the beautiful churches, the little fountains and the central square. Under the old Platanus, you can enjoy a refreshing drink or your meal in one of the taverns. There you will also see a big fountain known as “Lions” which was constructed in 1809.
In the villages of Pelion, there are some museums that you can visit, but the most beautiful thing is to admire the architecture and the incredible nature.
Hania is another beautiful village known for its ski resort. It is located 13 km away from Portaria and 26 km away from Volos. What makes Pelion unique is that you can ski and in 20 minutes you will be in front of the sea enjoying a tsipouro with seafood.
for two years with lots of laughter, good times, excellent collaboration and teamwork. Here we are playing in mounds of snow in #DestinationPelion during anniversary weekend trip. 
Thanks to @spyrouphiloxenia for organizing this incredible intinerary and to all the local businesses that made it happen. We’re excited to share our individual blog posts with the world! #tbgturns2 #travelbloggersgreece #teamwork #lovegreece #spyrouphiloxenia #tbgrocks
Where to stay and eat in the area:
Kritsa Gastronomy Hotel in Portaria
The Kritsa Gastronomy hotel is located in the central square of Portaria village in a 3-storey neoclassical building from the 1900’s and offers traditional rooms with breakfast. It is also a member of the Guest Inn Network of Rural Accommodation in Greece.
Kritsa is really well known in the area not only for the hotel but for the restaurant that is housed on the ground floor. I had the chance to eat there on my recent trip with Travel Bloggers Greece and I loved it. The restaurant offers traditional food of the area, it has impeccable service and great prices.
Manthos Hotel Resort & Spa in Hania
A luxurious hotel located close to the ski resort, offers spacious rooms, a restaurant where we had a coffee break, an indoor swimming pool and a spa.
Have you been to Pelion?
I was an invited guest of Spyrou Philoxenia, on behalf of Travel Bloggers Greece, to discover the region of Pelion during winter. As always opinions are my own.
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