Stavros church, Mouresi: August 2000. photo by kind permission H. Shipton
The Pilion is situated on the eastern coast of mainland Greece, in the province of Magnisia in the region of Thessalia. To the north lie the mountains Ossa and Olymbos, the latter, at 2917m (9568ft), being Greece's highest point. To the northwest lie the flat agricultural plains of Larisa that are the drained remnants of huge lakes. To the west lies the large port town of Volos and, beyond it, Volos airport. To the southwest is the Pagasitikos Gulf, sheltered by the Pilion and its curling tail. To the south is the large island of Evia (Euboea), while to the southeast are the much smaller, but better known, Sporades islands - Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonisos, Kyra Panagia and Yioura. To the northeast, across the Aegean Sea, the Halkidiki peninsula and the cone of Mt Athos are visible in certain weather conditions.
The low hills of the southern end of Pilion are typically Mediterranean in climate, but the northern half is mountainous, reaching 1624m (5327ft) at Pourianos Stavros; it catches the sea breezes and, like Mt Olymbos to the north, develops its own microclimate - hot in summer but cold and often damp in winter. The winter snows bring skiers from Athens to the ski centre at Hania, at 1200m (3936ft). The high winter rainfall has kept much of the woodland intact, with dense areas of sweet chestnut and, on the higher slopes, beech trees. Olive trees are, because of the severe winters, only found near sea-level.
In Greek myth the area was famed for the centaurs, half-men, half-horse, who lived on raw meat and wine - the Greek name, Kentavros, features locally. Later the area was a Greek educational stronghold during the years of Turkish occupation. Notables from Pilion include the national poet Rigas Feraios, an active supporter of Greek Independence, executed by the Turks in 1798, and familiar from the recent 200-drachma note. During the occupation, many locals moved to Egypt, then part of the Ottoman empire, and became involved in the cotton industry there. Nowadays, cotton can be seen growing in the plains of Volos and Larisa, including the fields around Volos airport.
Accommodation in a beautiful old restored house, plus guided walks, and copies of this book
and map, are available in the east Pilion area from Jill Sleeman at the
Old Silk Store, Mouresi. Tel: 0030 24260-49086, fax: 0030
24260-49565, mobile 0030 937-156780.
Accommodation, excursions, minibus transfers, boat-hire and cycle-hire are available from Les Hirondelles on Agios Ioannis seafront - email kentrikon[at]les-hirondelles.gr
or at Koumoundourou 19, Volos, during the winter.
Accommodation, plus copies of our walk book and map, are available in Tsagarada at the Lost Unicorn hotel. Tel:0030 24260-49930.
The Agios Ioannis taxi driver is Stathis on mobile 6946 008968. Lance Chilton and Marengo 2008
Marengo, 17 Bernard Crescent, HUNSTANTON PE36 6ER, England e-mail us: here
