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Unless otherwise noted, all pictures on this site were taken in Pelion, Greece, shown on the map below.

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View images of the Common Toad, an ugly, bulky, but really sweet creature with an interesting... nightlife.

  Veggie of the Month

Learn about the Salsify, a beautiful plant, with edible and medicinal properties, that is currently blooming in Pelion.

  Cool Destination

Visit Mourtias, one of Pelion's most picturesque beaches on the Aegean coast.

  Exciting Site

Tour the Volos Archaeological Museum, a pretty century-old building, whose exhibits span a historical period of over 10 millennia!

  Month's Wallpaper

Download a fantastic picture of a rickety jetty in Lefokastron, Pelion, taken by Huw Jones.

Loading image. Please wait Train Station :: Milies, Pelion :: December 2001 :: © A.Papadopoulos Train Station :: Milies, Pelion :: December 2001 :: © A.Papadopoulos Cobbled Road :: Milies, Pelion :: December 2001 :: © A.Papadopoulos Panoramic View :: Milies, Pelion :: December 2001 :: March 2002 :: © A.Papadopoulos Mansion in Ruin :: Milies, Pelion :: December 2001 :: March 2002 :: © A.Papadopoulos Main Square :: Milies, Pelion :: December 2001 :: March 2002 :: © A.Papadopoulos

Milies

Home of Centaur  Cheiron, whose lair is located near the old railroad station, Milies, a beautiful, traditional village, with over 4 centuries of history, derives its name from the abundance of apple trees, which grow naturally in the area. The settlement, with its winding, cobbled roads, its majestic mansions and its elegant water fountains, unfolds on the lower slopes of Mt. Pelion, blending magnificently with the silver-green foliages of the aged olive trees and the plush natural vegetation.

During the dark ages of the Ottoman occupation, Milies became Pelion's cultural center and provided refuge to many scholars and artists. The village, itself, gave Hellenism three celebrated scholars, who contributed significantly to the enlightenment of the region and the entire nation.

The village is located some 27 km (17 miles) from the city of Volos, 27 km (17 miles) from Argalasti and 33.5 km (21 miles) from Horto.


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History

The village was founded in the 16th century, by people who fled the island of Euboea, to escape from Venetian oppression and find safety from the raids of Algerian pirates, who plagued the Mediterranean at the time.

By 1760, Milies had become one of Pelion's most prominent cultural centers, as it was home of the "School of Common Greek". Now, this may sound a little commonplace, but don't forget that, at the time, Greece was under Turkish occupation and the Sultan didn't regard such initiatives very favorably.

About half a century later, in 1814, Gregorios Constantas reorganized and modernized the school, making it one of the most prestigious educational institutions of the Balkans. He was greatly assisted in his endeavor by an enlightened clergyman, Anthimos Gazis, who traveled all over Europe, collecting funds, books and instructional material. It is noteworthy that, at the time, the school's library housed some 4,000 books, addressing a wide variety of scientific subjects, such as Physics, Chemistry, Anthropology, Mathematics, Natural History and Philosophy. Additionally, the school was equipped with dictionaries, maps, geographic atlases, and laboratory instruments.

On the 7th of May 1821, Anthimos Gazis blessed the Greek revolutionary flag at the historic "Taxiarhes Church", however the Turks quickly repressed that particular revolution. Pelion finally managed to gain its independence some 60 years later, in 1881.

As can be expected, the village's economy was largely based on agriculture. Nicolas Magnis, a schoolteacher from Thessaly, in his excellent book "Travel Log or Topography of Thessaly and Magnesia," which was first published in 1860, describes Milies as follows:

"The village consists of over 350 well-constructed stone houses. Crystal-clear, ice-cold waters abound the land, which is laden with a wide variety of fruit trees, such as apples, pears, cherries, peaches, quinces, pomegranates, prunes, walnuts, etc. The surrounding areas, which are overgrown with chestnuts, sycamores, poplars, oaks and beeches, produce ample timber for use in building and carpentry.

The village's most profitable estates are its olive groves, vineyards and fig groves. Down, by the coast, there are arable lands, which produce wheat, barley, corn, beans, and cotton. Above the village, near the peak of the mountain, there are cultivatable plots, where the villagers sow corn and plant potatoes.

The village's most profitable products are silk, olive oil and olives. Other profitable products include figs, grapes, peaches, apples, cherries, prunes, walnuts, quinces, etc."

Late in the 19th century, the Italian engineer Evaristo de Chirico, father of the famous painter, Giorgio de Chirico, was contracted to design and build a 600 mm (23.5 in) gauge railway line, connecting Milies with Volos. The project, which was constructed gradually, between 1894 and 1903, served the region's transportation needs for almost 70 years prior to being decommissioned in 1971. Thankfully, the train was recommissioned in 1996 and now takes tourists from Ano Lehonia to Milies on weekends and holidays. It is noteworthy that the first reinforced concrete bridge ever to be constructed in Greece, was part of the line's infrastructure.

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Sightseeing

While in Milies, make sure to visit:

• The Taxiarhes Church, which is located at the central square. It was constructed c. 1740 AD and is decorated with some really fascinating and unusual frescos. I particularly liked a large fresco, depicting the "Judgement", which occupies an entire wall.

• The Folk Art Museum. It houses a private collection of photographs depicting forgotten trades and vocations, some great paintings by  Theophilos, as well as a variety of hand-made embroideries and laceworks. The Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, between 10:00 - 14:00, and admission is free. For further information, you can call (+30)-24230-86602.

• The Library, which is situated just above the central square. It houses a unique collection of rare 19th century books.

• The century-old railway station, which has been recently refurbished. In fact, I strongly recommend the ride. The train runs on weekends and holidays, except during the winter. Presently, it departs at 11:00 from Ano Lehonia for Milies and at 16:00 from Milies for Ano Lehonia. For further info call (+30)-24210-24056 or 28555.

Other things worth seeing are the 18th and 19th century water fountains. Milies also has an extensive network of cobbled roads, called "kalderimia", which offer nice walking opportunities.

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Accommodation


There are a number of Class A archondika (mansions) that are open year round. I've heard that some offer exceptional services.

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Camping


I am not aware of any camping sites in the vicinity. If you do discover anything, though, please e-mail me and let me know.

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Directions


Driving to Milies is really easy. If you're in Volos, just follow the road that leads to South Pelion. On the way there, you'll drive successively through Agria, Kato Lehonia, Ano Lehonia, Malaki, Kato Gatzea and Kala Nera. Approximately 2 km (1 ^1/4 miles) past Kala Nera, turn left at the intersection and drive uphill for another 7 km (approx. 4 ^3/8 miles). The intersection is well signposted, so you can't miss it.

If you're in Horto or Argalasti, take the road to Volos and turn right, at the aforesaid intersection. You'll run into it just after you drive past Koropi.

The road all the way to Milies is paved and in good condition, so you shouldn't have any trouble at all getting there.

To get a better understanding of the area, check out the associated map.

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