The Region
Among those who know Greece, the Pelion is one of the most beautiful regions in a country that is really not short of beauty. This high regard already existed in antiquity: the myths of this period populated the Pelion with heroes, fabulous creatures and gods... The Pelion was the home of the Centaurs, half man and half horse, and Chiron, the wisest of all these fabulous creatures, was the teacher of Achilles and Hercules and introduced Asclepius to the secrets of medicine. Here, the heroic Argonauts set off for their adventurous journey in search of the Golden Fleece. The gods of Olympus celebrated glittering parties and spent their summer holidays here... There is evidence of something similar in the historical reality; significant settlements from the Stone-Age period, which are among the oldest of our continent, have been excavated in the locations of Dimini und Sesklo. In the science of history, Dimini und Sesklo are a synonym for this pre-historical epoch. An archaeologist who is to be taken extremely seriously even assumes that she has located the palace of the legendary King Pelias here.
There is also increasing accessibility. At present, you still have to travel there via Thessaloniki Airport, Athens or Skiathos, which is rather inconvenient. By 2004 at the latest, you will have a choice between Larissa and Volos. These flying bases, which have been military bases up to now, are being expanded for civil aviation. With all the beauty and all the cultural richness of the Pelion, the fact that it is possible to approach the island world of the northern Sporades from here by boat constitutes an additional attraction. Fast hydrofoils connect the mainland with the islands. In this way, Skiathos, Skopelos or Alonnisos can be reached in an extremely short time. Car ferries and privately operated charter boats connect the harbours and bays on the mainland to the islands. Anyone who has their own boat can go out to the Piperion island, where it is possible to observe the last monk seals of the Mediterranean with a bit of luck. |