Magnesia is located on the southeastern area of Thessaly in central Greece. Magnesia derives its name from the Macedonian tribe name Magnetes. The capital of the Magnesia prefecture is Volos, which is the second largest city in Thessaly and the third busiest commercial port in Greece.
Volos lies between the beautiful and clear waters of the Pagisitikos Bay and the evergreen slopes of Pelion mountain, which is said to be the summer residence of the twelve Olympian gods and the mythical land of the Centaurs, half-man and half-horse creatures who roamed the earth in mythological stories. The mountain itself has 24 quaint villages that feature a unique architectural style, and each are either perched on its slopes or hidden in green ravines. The eastern side of Mt. Pelion is where the Aegean Sea lies, and the mountain falls abruptly into the sea giving it a wonderful characteristic of rocky coasts and sandy beaches. The peaks and slopes of Mt. Pelion are dotted with tiny churches dedicated to saints and to the Virgin Mary. Inside the churches are ancient relics and post-Byzantine icons.
If you head southeast from Volos for 8 kilometers, you will reach Agria, a coastal suburb with a wonderfully long beach in a beautiful backsplash of olive groves and orchards. There are several hotels and restaurants located in Agria. Here you can visit the chapel of the Virgin of Goritsa and view the icon screen with carved and painted scenes in the chapel of the Holy Cross. Just 12 kilometers past Agria you will find Drakia. Drakia is a beautiful village that boasts lush vegetation, running streams, and very popular tower houses. The Triantaphyllou mansion, which is decorated with paintings from the 18th century, and features carved doorways and moulded ceilings, is considered a one-of-a-kind mansion and is most definitely worth a visit. On August 23rd of each year, the main square, which is believed to be the oldest in Pelion, hosts a folk festival with traditional costumes and music.
Past Agria is Kato and Ano Lehonia, where most of the cultivated flowers from Pelion are grown and sold. You can literally smell the gardenias and other flowers in the air while you sample the fresh fish, or laze in a nearby café. Just south from Ano Lehonia is Kato Gatzea, which is a village that offers protected beaches and is engulfed in an olive grove.
Just 20 kilometers from Volos is another charming seaside village called Kala Nera. Here you can see leafy plane trees and many beautiful and fruitful orchards. Just to the east is Milies. This is one of the larger villages of Pelion and a very important cultural center. Just a while farther will bring you to Vizitsa, a mountain village that is hidden behind beautiful plane trees. The Pelion styled towers and magnificent old mansions have led to Vizitsa being declared a landmark settlement that is now protected from unseemly development.
In Koropi, which sits on the site of the ancient city of Koropi, there are olive groves and orchards on the road leading in, and the city is the famous home of the Oracle of Apollo Koropaios.
To the south, there are a number of beautiful, sandy beaches leading to Milina, which is a very popular summer resort for Greek natives, as well as international visitors. After Milina, the road takes you to Trikeri, which is a lovely mansion filled village at the very peak of the Magnesia peninsula.
The most popular archeaological sights for visiting are Pagasae, Iolcus, Demetrias, and Nea Anchialos.
Magnesia’s climate is perfect for tourism. The average temperature is 17 degrees Celcius, or 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average rainfall amount is around 540 millimeters per year. Extreme heat or very cold temperatures are very rare in Magnesia. During the summer months, the temperature normally reaches around 30 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The climate is different in the various regions of Magnesia, but overall the temperatures are a very comfortable