ABOUT MAGNISIA PREFECTURE
The prefecture of Magnesia is one of the 4 prefectures of Thessaly and is found at a distance of 326km away from Athens and 215km away from Thessaloniki. Magnesia prefecture combines history, be autiful natural environment, hospitable inhabitants and modern tourist facilities. The natural beauty of the massif of M t Pelion, but also the joys offered by the water element of Pagassitikos and the Aegean Sea render the beauty and variety of the prefecture unique, making it simultaneously an ideal holiday destination. The inhabitants engage mainly in fishery, cattle-breeding, agriculture, industry and tourism.
Its capital is Volos. Volos is built at the location of Ancient Iolkos, from which Jasson with Argo and his companions set off on the Argonautic Expedition.
The city of Volos demonstrates a remarkable cultural and artistic activity, as it is the seat of the University of Thessaly, the Municipal Regional Theatre and the Musical Theatre Centre.
The most important monuments of the city are: the Archeological Museum, the Town Hall, the folk-art Museums of Kitsos Makris and Theofilos, the neoclassical Municipal Conservatory, the Municipal Theatre, the picture gallery of Chryssoula Zioga, the Arts Centre “Giorgio de Chirico”, the Papastratos mansion and other neoclassical buildings. The sea side park of Anavros with modern sculptures by Greek and foreign artists are also worth visiting.
Pilio, seems to be the battle-ground of the Gigantomachy, the summer residence of the Olympian Gods and the Mythical land of Centaurs. On the mountain's peak Thetis married Pileus, after whom the mountain was named. Pileus was the mythical king of the region and father of the famous mythical hero of the Trojan War, Achilles.
The mountain stretches from the northwest to the southeast, between the Aegean Sea and the Gulf of Pagassitikos. One of the main characteristics of the natural environment of Mt Pilio is the abundance of the water element, rendering the vegetation rich and the climate particularly healthy.
It is considered to be the mountain with the richest vegetation in the entire Greece. The mountain is overgrown with fir trees, beeches, oaks, chestnut trees, poplar-trees, willows, plane-trees, and other fruit-bearing trees like olive trees, plum trees, pear trees, walnut trees, cherry trees etc.
One of the most interesting and special elements of the wider region of Mt. Pelion, was the renowned steam train “Mountzouris” (1895) which for 70 years following the picturesque route Volos-Milies. The small train was transporting people and goods.
On Pilio Mountain there are 24 large villages and some smaller lovely villages. They are picturesque settlements, some of them on steep peaks and others hidden in verdurous ravines, but all of them characterized by a unique architectural style.
