Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cars can be hired from
Hertz
(
24210 22544;
stvolos@herz.gr
)
, at the port next to the fish
market, and
Avis
(
24210 22880;
avisvolos@otenet.gr
; Argonafton 41)
.
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Around Volos
Just west of Volos are two major archaeological sites, both dating from early Greek civil-
isation in Thessaly. The first is
Dimini
( 24210 85960; admission €2; 8.30am-2.30pm
Tue-Sun)
, a late Neolithic site (4800-4500 BC) inhabited to the Bronze Age, complete
with traces of streets and houses and a wonderful
tholos
(Mycenaean tomb shaped like a
beehive). The second is
Sesklo
( 24210 95172; admission €2; 8.30am-2.30pm Tue-Sun)
,
with remains of the oldest acropolis in Greece (6000 BC). The architecture at both sites
typifies the complex agrarian communities that could sustain much larger populations
than those of their Palaeolithic hunter- gatherer ancestors.
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Pelion PeninsulaΠήλιον Ορος
The Pelion Peninsula lies to the east and south of Volos. It's formed by a dramatic moun-
tain range, where the highest peak is Pourianos Stavros (1624m). The largely inaccess-
ible eastern flank consists of high cliffs that plunge into the sea. The gentler western
flank coils around the Pagasitikos Gulf. The interior is a green wonderland where trees
heavy with fruit vie with wild olive groves and forests of horse chestnut, oak, walnut, eu-
calyptus and beech to reach the light of day. The villages tucked away in this profuse fo-
liage are characterised by whitewashed, half-timbered houses with overhanging bal-
conies, grey slate roofs and old winding footpaths.
Many lodgings in the Pelion are traditional
arhontika
(stone mansions), tastefully con-
verted into pensions and reasonably priced. The peninsula has an enduring tradition of
regional cooking, often flavoured with mountain herbs. Local specialities include
fasol-
adha
(bean soup),
kouneli stifadho, spetsofaï
(stewed pork sausages and peppers) and
tyropsomo
(cheese bread).
For accommodation, you can expect the higher July and August rates quoted here to
drop by at least 30% at other times.
