About East Pelion

Authentic, natural, unspoilt, green... a unique eco environment on the Aegean sea!

Pelion is a mountain of 1624 meters of altitude dropping directly into the ocean. It is located in the center of continental Greece, almost half way between Athens and Thessaloniki and the closest main city is Volos. You may also find it as Pelion Peninsula, cause on the east side is facing the open Aegean Sea, whereas the west side is facing Volos gulf (ie. Pagasitikos gulf). It is divided roughly in the following areas:

West Pelion. The area from Volos city until the villages of Milies and Afissos, characteristic for its proximity to the city and lake-like beaches on Volos gulf.
South Pelion. The whole area from Argalasti village until the very bottom of the peninsula (Trikeri). That is the part of Pelion that looks more like a peninsula with Aegean sea on one side and Volos gulf on the other. The altitude here is lower and the landscape is hilly full of olive groves.
East Pelion. The area between the villages of Kalamaki and Pouri, facing exclusively the Aegean. Here are the highest peaks of the mountain and its slopes fading dramatically into the ocean. Vegetation is mainly big trees. Characteristic is the dense forest of beech trees, chestnut trees and plane trees until the sea level and the natural beaches at the end of each mountain gorge.
North Pelion. The area from Keramidi village until Pouri. It is not directly connected via car roads with the rest of Pelion, as there are hardly any villages, and all area (both mountain and coast) is in compete wilderness. Here is the vast majority of Pelion land protected by the european program "Natura 2000".

Natural

The 24 villages of Pelion create a rural environment densely populated and very natural at the same time, something not very common in the greek mountains. The central greek government recognized this special attribute of Pelion (and especially of East Pelion) and helped its protection with two main actions:

The presidential decree of 1980 that charaterised Pelion villages as traditional, imposing very specific and strict architectural rules that have to be followed by any new building. These rules are still valid, resulting in maintaining the traditional architecture and keeping the special charm of Pelion villages.
The incorportion of North and East Pelion in the european network of special protection and conservation areas, "Natura 2000". Although, its special restrictions are not always being respected, it has contributed in preserving Pelion's ecological and natural identity.

Authentic

Unlike other tourist destinations, Pelion is not based in tourism only. Farming sector is still very powerful and the majority of local inhabitants are dedicated to fruit cultivations. This something you can experience during the harvesting period in September. Specifically, local economy is based, apart from tourism, on:

Apples. In Zagora there is the biggest greek farming cooperative (since 1916), specialized in apples with the best reputation in Greece.
Chestnuts. A key cultivation on the east side for the development of the area throughout the centuries. Pelion's special climate creates chestnuts of premium quality and taste, exported abroad.
Olives. Pelion (or Volos) olives is recognized as a specific variety of olives (ie. olea rotunda) with great reputation as popular edible olives. Expect to see olive groves with huge centuries-old trees.
Slate stone. In the area around Kalamaki village, there are mines of slate stone which has always been used for the roofs of the traditional houses, since old times.

Why East Pelion

East Pelion is concentrating all the attributes that make Pelion special.

Because of its proximity to the highest mount peaks, here are the dramatic images of the steep mountain meeting the ocean directly, creating a a dantel-like coastline full of diverse little bays, huge cliffs and sea caves.
The east side of the mountain, exposed to the open Aegean sea, has a unique microclimate... a sort of rainforest on the mediterranean sea. These special climatological conditions have resulted in a biodiversity that cannot be found anywhere else in Greece. Mediterranean trees and plants mix together with central european flora in three zones of thick forest: the beech forest in high altitude, the chestnut and oak forest in medium altitude and the coastal jungle arriving literally until the sea level. East Pelion resembles exactly a tropical coastline without palm trees.
Located in a longer distance from Volos city, than the other areas, East Pelion has preserved a high degree of authenticity. It has not suffered a construction boom, altering the traditional identity of the villages. It has the greatest number of traditional settlements (according to the 1980 decree), subject to the strictest architectural rules.
Another reason that favors the high degree of authenticity of East Pelion, is the structure of the local economy. Here are the centers of apple, pear, cherry, chestnut cultivations of Pelion. While driving or hiking from one village to the other, expect to see busy rural activity and locals taking care of the fields, picking up fruits and collecting herbs.
East Pelion is not a new tourist destination. In our family, for example, we are already the third generation dedicated to tourism business. Tourists have been arriving here since the 1960's. Taking this fact in consideration it is impressive to realize how the area resisted overdevelopment and mass tourism. East Pelion is an example of non-forced sustainable development, not invaded by chain hotel companies and having kept the majority of the businesses in hands of locals. Having over 50 years of tourism activity, East Pelion is still maintaining the same "image" as touristic product... perceived by new-comers as a destination off-the-beaten track, a hidden gem on continental Greece that waits to be explored.

History, Mythology and Evolution of Pelion from ancient times until now

Wedding place between the immortal nymph Thetis and the mortal king Peleus (mother and father of Achilles), where a misunderstanding between the invited and uninvited greek gods, finally, led to the trojan war ... ... Ancient greek towns mentioned to be in Pelion are: Casthanea, Olizon, Spalathra, Methone, Coracae ... ...