The Acropolis of Farsala lies atop a rocky hill of the Prophet Elias, stretching from east to west. It is 500 meters long and 60 meters wide, surrounding by natural fortifications. Worth a visit when passing near Farsala.
The 29 metre high low hill of Magoula that stands on a low (29 meter) hill above the town was once the acropolis of Pyrasos. Pyrasos is scarcely known from historical sources, except that it was an active harbour and featured a famous temple of Demeter and Kore, after which the harbour was later known as Demetrion.
One of Thessaly’s most notable sites, the Acropolis of ancient Feres was inhabited between the neolithic period (around 300 B.C.) and the era of the early Roman Empire (first century A.D.), and again in the Byzantine period during the 13th Century. It was given its name in modern history for being the home of local author, politician and revolutionary Rigas Feraios, who was one of the heroes of the 1821 Greek Revolution. The site has undergone few renovations until the present day although its most vulnerable parts are being maintained.
Archaeological and geological studies have been carried out in around 10 caves and rock shelters around Lake Karla, including at the famous Aghios Athanasios cave, which is relatively small but highly impressive because of its beautiful rock formations.
The old village of Kanalia has the Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos with notable frescoes from the 13th and 17th centuries is also remarkable. The hill of Agios Athanassios has remains of a temple by the same name. Ruins of three fortresses are also there.
This generally inaccessible cave is located at 3.9 km southwest of the town of Farsala in the Alogopati position, on the slopes of Karapla, above the southernmost tip of the Enipea valley. It takes around half an hour of very demanding climbing up a very steep cliff to reach the cave, which is why it is very rarely visited. For some, it’s worth it however as once there, one can see the ancient shrine dedicated to the worship of Pan and the Nymphs.
Ancient Eretria was founded on a hill some 650 meters high in the middle of the great Thessalian plain, not far from today’s village of Palaiomylos. You’ll find few remains of an acropolis, walls and gates on the site. Source: Farsala.gr
The remains of Ancient Kasthanea (or Kasthanaia) near Keramidi have revealed remains of a city who according to Herodotus was involved in defeating the Persian King Xerxes in 480 BC. Only parts of the walls of this city still remain today.
Northeast of the low hill of Kastraki you will find the base of an ancient theatre, and a flat area where one can assume the theatre orchestra once stood.
Skotousa stood over hills on the road between the villages of Ano Skotousa and Agia Triada. While not totally unearthed, current remains point out to long walls over 4 km with 44 square towers, 5 gates, a stadium and a theatre. Source:Farsala.gr
Mythology has it that the Goddess Hera bathed in the crystal, healing waters of this former spring in order to renew her virginity. The spring, located in the center of the ancient city, flowed abundantly since ancient times – ever since it was inhabited in 3000 B.C. – until 1998, when it suddenly dried out.
Located 30km southeast of Volos, the winery is an enjoyable stop as you approach Lake Karla, coming from Athens. The Apostolakis family vineyard follows old winemaking practices, inspired by Thessaly’s traditions. The Apostolaki tsipouro, a potent clear spirit made from distilled grapes, stands out for its excellent taste and quality.
Neolithic settlements and a broad variety of finds from the prehistoric and historic years were discovered in the area surrounding the village. Remnants from a mosque were found at the Tzami height, where a Myceanean tomb with significant finds was also unearthed.
Just 5 km west of Volos and close to the village of Dimini lies a grand Neolithic settlement with a high level of urban sophistication dating from the 5th century BC.
Around 15 km from Volos and set atop Kastraki hill you can find the well known Sesklo archaeological site. The Neolithic settlement of Sesklo was inhabited from the mid-7th till the 4th millenium B.C.
Lying just 1.5 km north of Volos, Dimitriada was founded in 294 BC by the King of the Macedonians Dimitrius Poliorkitis and named after him.
Ancient Krannon near modern-day Krannonas was an important city from Pelasgian times, flourishing between the 6th-4th centuries BC. The site reveals pyramidal tombs, as well as pottery workshops and kilns. Tombs from the classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods have also been found in the area, including a cemetery from the Early Iron Age built on a prehistoric settlement. Higher up there are remains of an acropolis, while lower elevations feature remains of its agora.
Source: Diazoma
Translated as Bear Hole, this cave will enthrall all spelunkers. Stalactites adorn the cave’s main chamber which makes it a must-see. Hike to Koziakas Lake nearby.
This is the most important in the region, dating from 1909. It features collections from prehistory to Roman years, such as ceramics, statues, bone tools and weapons. A collection of Neolithic figurines, clay models and vases, as well as gold jewellery are on display. Coins from Thessaly and other parts of the ancient Greek world are on display. A Mycenaean model of a chariot from the 13th Century BC, a gold necklace from ancient Pelinneon (3rd century BC) and representation of a tomb from the Protogeometric period (1050-900 BC) are also on display.
Here’s a large fortified settlement from the Byzantine period spread over 130,000 square meters, with exceptional views to the coast and the valley of Agia. This area was home to the Byzantine city of Centauropolis (Kentavropoli), with walls fortified by Justinian.
Much of the walls are from the Paliochristian period, showing small and large stones with plaster, reaching up to three meters in some places. On the eastern side there is another style wall with smaller pieces of brick and stone from the middle Byzantine period. Remains of a lone tower in ruins dominate the area to this day.
Source: Dimosagias
Once a fortification lying over 21,000 meters just north of Velika, this castle was strategic in surveying coastal settlements. Its walls are two meters thick and at some points three meters high. Source: Dimosagias
Archaeologists have discovered evidence that the cave, located in the area of Aghios Athanasios, was used during the Mycenaean and Neolithic times. It is considered one of the most historically important caves of Karla and Magnesia in general because of the finds discovered there, and also due to its size.
Six hundred and twenty geological monuments have been recorded in Magnesia, many of which require further research and protection, including 280 caves in Pelion, Orthi, Mavrovouni, Halkodonio, Hlomo and Tisaio.
If you’re into studying nature, you’re going to love this gem of a place. The Centre for Research and Protection of Wild Orchids in Northern Pelion was established in 2012 and lies in the old school of the village of Kerasia, not far from Lake Karla.
Between the Aghios Nikolaos of Flabourio and the sandy coast of Limnionas, at the edge of Veneto-Old Mitzela, small and large caves are found within the coastal rocks.
Some of these, known by the ancient Greeks as ‘Ipnoi’, have stalactites where wild pigeons and seals nestle. This maritime spot was written about by Herodotus, who described the destruction of Xerxes’ largest fleet there in 480 B.C. The Despot’s Cave, named thus because it was regularly visited by Archbishop Dimitriados Grigorios in 1905, is the most well-known amongst them and is large enough for a fishing boat to enter through.
South of the city of Farsala lies the scenic Farsala Forest, one of Greece’s 19 officially designated aesthetic forests. It occupies the northern slopes of Prophet Elias hill, covering 345 hectares. It mainly consists of pine and cypress trees as well as islets of natural vegetation. It is characterized as a suburban grove and it is an important recreational area for residents.
Created in 2010 by members of the Nea Karion Women’s Association, the Folklore Museum presents aspects of the village’s cultural and social life over the past two centuries. Household items, handicrafts, agricultural tools, religious statues and traditional costumes all grace the exhibition space, while the museum also displays a photo exhibition and paintiungs by Dinos Giotopoulos.
The Hellenistic ‘Fthiotides Thebes’ were probably created around the second half of the 4th Century B.C. and were previously occupied by the ancient city of Pyrassos.
Deep in the Gulf of Pegasus (or Pegasitic Gulf in Greek), east of Volos, lies a commanding hill with a very strategic view in ancient times, where Phillip II built a city. Its name remains unknown, but could be Nilea, Orminio, Iolkos or Dimitriada.
Housed in the Zoulia mansion, the museum presents artefacts on the economic and cultural development of the area from 1900 and to the mid 20th century.
Learn more about the lesser kestrel! An information centre about this wondrous bird funded by the EU LIFE programme (LIFE+ 11 ΝΑΤ/GR/001011) was established beside the local high school in the village of Kanalia, not far from Lake Karla.
Located in the two-storey home of folklorist Kitsos Makris, the center displays his folklore collection, a library with 4,000 volumes of books and his archive, and a collection of 2,500 slides and 4,000 photographs, many of which illustrate treasures of folk tradition that cannot be found in the present day. The museum belongs to the University of Thessaly since 1989.
Visiting hours: 09:00 – 14:00 (closed on weekends).
Kouri Forest, located around 1000 meters northwest of the town of Almiros in an area around 1150 acres in size (once as large as 20,000 acres). The lowland oak forest has a rare ecosystem by nationwide standards. The forest is covered mainly by fluff oak (Quercus pubescens) that’s around 160 years old, while Quercus ithaburensis var. macrolepis and Quercus pendunculiflora are also found there. Within the forest are two ponds, an outdoor chess board sized at 9 sq.m., a restaurant, cafeteria, and playground.
Mavrovouni is located between the plain of Thessaly and the Aegean Sea. Its northern shores are thickly forested while its southwestern slopes are covered in scrub. Two rare species of eagles survive here, the golden eagle and the snake eagle. 364,540 acres of the area are in the care of the Mavrovouni Special Protection Zone.
In the village of Kanalia near Lake Karla, the Museum of Lake Karla’s Civilization offers precious insight on life around the lake before it was drained, how the livelihood of the inhabitants was compromised, and what opportunities exist for its future.
At the foothills of Mavrovouni mountain, northwest of the village of Amygdali, this Neolithic settlement also features finds from the Bronze age and Ottoman period. Remains of a 9th-century Byzantine church half buried under the road reveals a tomb from the Catalan period.
Several Neolithic settlements have been found around Nikaia. There are Roman steles with inscriptions, as well as steles from Impsio and Poseidon Zeuxanthion dating from the Hellenistic years. Nikaia may be sitting on the site of Ancient Chalce (Halki).
The area of Platikampos in the greater Larisa region has revealed Neolithic settlements and finds from the Classical era. In Platikampos as well there is an old Ottoman building worth visiting as well.
Neolithic remains have been found around the village of Melissohori, including two anthropomorphic figurines of humped women. There are also tombs and finds from the Classical era in this area.
This is one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the region, excavated at the western foothills of Mavrovouni not far from Lake Karla. The center of the village shows sophisticated stone buildings from Neolithic times (5th-4th centuries BC). Source: dimosagias
The forest is the area’s most admirable emblem because of its beauty and rich varieties of flora and fauna. It has been promoted to a national forest by the European Union as it is one the best organized forests in the country, offering a broad range of alternative activities such as hiking, rafting and rappel. On the side that’s near the sea, there are thickly forested slopes, gorges and cliffs. Check out our birdwatching section in Lake Karla to learn about all the bird species flourishing here.
Starting from the lush beauty of Mavrovouni, with its picturesque natural lakes and thick vegetation and reaching all the way to the Aegean sea, the area provides wonderful organized opportunities for hiking, mountaineering and climbing. This was also the countryside royal residence, the royal estate of Polydendri.
Four ancient mounds (magoula) in the Kalamaki area of Magnesia attest to continuously inhabited areas from Neolithic times. Another mound dubbed Asimohoma lies in the Larisa region near Melissa, with a 5-meter-high tomb from the Classical era.
Entering the city of Feres and standing above the ancient river Samia, you will come across one of the most beautiful Byzantine buildings to have partially remained standing upright despite the passage of time. This aqueduct, which once transported water from a distant well in a Monastery, was built 800 years ago.
Three rocky hills lying 3.5 km east of Sotirio were most likely islands in the middle of ancient Lake Voiviida (today Lake Karla) were once surrounded by Mycenaean walls. The area revealed finds from ancient, classical and Byzantine periods.
The ruins of this ancient walled city on Meria hill have piqued the interest of archeologists, representing one of the most important on the Kapourna plateau. The city, which is yet to reveal its secrets, was inhabited for a long time and is within walking distance from Volos. Source: wikimapia.org
Located on the northern edge of the ancient city, the temple is one of Thessaly’s few ancient sites where archaeological excavations took place. The Doric temple had 6X6 columns and is dated to the end of the fourth century B.C.
Two ancient mounds (magoula) have been found east and south of Armenio. The largest, known as Trani, has an impressive height of 10 meters, a length of 500 meters and a width of 300 meters. Finds here hail from Neolithic, bronze, Classical and Byzantine periods. Source:Karachristos B. G.
Five vaulted tombs from the Mycenean era have been discovered on the west bank of the black Karanteres stream, complete with many votive offerings. Another was found west of the village of Megalo Monastiri.
The well-preserved vaulted tombs discovered here belong to a cemetery of the pre-geometric-geometric era (8th-10th Centuries BC). It is an extension of the cemetery created for the ancient city of Feres, which developed beside the ancient Feres – Larissa road.
The wine festival in Nea Anchialos, which began in 1960, has become one of the region’s most celebrated traditions. Crowds of locals and visitors gather to enjoy themselves and sample the local wines, honouring the ancient tradition of regional winemaking.
The Acropolis of Farsala lies atop a rocky hill of the Prophet Elias, stretching from east to west. It is 500 meters long and 60 meters wide, surrounding by natural fortifications. Worth a visit when passing near Farsala.
The 29 metre high low hill of Magoula that stands on a low (29 meter) hill above the town was once the acropolis of Pyrasos. Pyrasos is scarcely known from historical sources, except that it was an active harbour and featured a famous temple of Demeter and Kore, after which the harbour was later known as Demetrion.
One of Thessaly’s most notable sites, the Acropolis of ancient Feres was inhabited between the neolithic period (around 300 B.C.) and the era of the early Roman Empire (first century A.D.), and again in the Byzantine period during the 13th Century. It was given its name in modern history for being the home of local author, politician and revolutionary Rigas Feraios, who was one of the heroes of the 1821 Greek Revolution. The site has undergone few renovations until the present day although its most vulnerable parts are being maintained.
Ancient Eretria was founded on a hill some 650 meters high in the middle of the great Thessalian plain, not far from today’s village of Palaiomylos. You’ll find few remains of an acropolis, walls and gates on the site. Source: Farsala.gr
The remains of Ancient Kasthanea (or Kasthanaia) near Keramidi have revealed remains of a city who according to Herodotus was involved in defeating the Persian King Xerxes in 480 BC. Only parts of the walls of this city still remain today.
Northeast of the low hill of Kastraki you will find the base of an ancient theatre, and a flat area where one can assume the theatre orchestra once stood.
Skotousa stood over hills on the road between the villages of Ano Skotousa and Agia Triada. While not totally unearthed, current remains point out to long walls over 4 km with 44 square towers, 5 gates, a stadium and a theatre. Source:Farsala.gr
Mythology has it that the Goddess Hera bathed in the crystal, healing waters of this former spring in order to renew her virginity. The spring, located in the center of the ancient city, flowed abundantly since ancient times – ever since it was inhabited in 3000 B.C. – until 1998, when it suddenly dried out.
Neolithic settlements and a broad variety of finds from the prehistoric and historic years were discovered in the area surrounding the village. Remnants from a mosque were found at the Tzami height, where a Myceanean tomb with significant finds was also unearthed.
Just 5 km west of Volos and close to the village of Dimini lies a grand Neolithic settlement with a high level of urban sophistication dating from the 5th century BC.
Around 15 km from Volos and set atop Kastraki hill you can find the well known Sesklo archaeological site. The Neolithic settlement of Sesklo was inhabited from the mid-7th till the 4th millenium B.C.
Lying just 1.5 km north of Volos, Dimitriada was founded in 294 BC by the King of the Macedonians Dimitrius Poliorkitis and named after him.
Ancient Krannon near modern-day Krannonas was an important city from Pelasgian times, flourishing between the 6th-4th centuries BC. The site reveals pyramidal tombs, as well as pottery workshops and kilns. Tombs from the classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods have also been found in the area, including a cemetery from the Early Iron Age built on a prehistoric settlement. Higher up there are remains of an acropolis, while lower elevations feature remains of its agora.
Source: Diazoma
This is the most important in the region, dating from 1909. It features collections from prehistory to Roman years, such as ceramics, statues, bone tools and weapons. A collection of Neolithic figurines, clay models and vases, as well as gold jewellery are on display. Coins from Thessaly and other parts of the ancient Greek world are on display. A Mycenaean model of a chariot from the 13th Century BC, a gold necklace from ancient Pelinneon (3rd century BC) and representation of a tomb from the Protogeometric period (1050-900 BC) are also on display.
Here’s a large fortified settlement from the Byzantine period spread over 130,000 square meters, with exceptional views to the coast and the valley of Agia. This area was home to the Byzantine city of Centauropolis (Kentavropoli), with walls fortified by Justinian.
Much of the walls are from the Paliochristian period, showing small and large stones with plaster, reaching up to three meters in some places. On the eastern side there is another style wall with smaller pieces of brick and stone from the middle Byzantine period. Remains of a lone tower in ruins dominate the area to this day.
Source: Dimosagias
Once a fortification lying over 21,000 meters just north of Velika, this castle was strategic in surveying coastal settlements. Its walls are two meters thick and at some points three meters high. Source: Dimosagias
The Hellenistic ‘Fthiotides Thebes’ were probably created around the second half of the 4th Century B.C. and were previously occupied by the ancient city of Pyrassos.
Deep in the Gulf of Pegasus (or Pegasitic Gulf in Greek), east of Volos, lies a commanding hill with a very strategic view in ancient times, where Phillip II built a city. Its name remains unknown, but could be Nilea, Orminio, Iolkos or Dimitriada.
At the foothills of Mavrovouni mountain, northwest of the village of Amygdali, this Neolithic settlement also features finds from the Bronze age and Ottoman period. Remains of a 9th-century Byzantine church half buried under the road reveals a tomb from the Catalan period.
Several Neolithic settlements have been found around Nikaia. There are Roman steles with inscriptions, as well as steles from Impsio and Poseidon Zeuxanthion dating from the Hellenistic years. Nikaia may be sitting on the site of Ancient Chalce (Halki).
The area of Platikampos in the greater Larisa region has revealed Neolithic settlements and finds from the Classical era. In Platikampos as well there is an old Ottoman building worth visiting as well.
Neolithic remains have been found around the village of Melissohori, including two anthropomorphic figurines of humped women. There are also tombs and finds from the Classical era in this area.
This is one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the region, excavated at the western foothills of Mavrovouni not far from Lake Karla. The center of the village shows sophisticated stone buildings from Neolithic times (5th-4th centuries BC). Source: dimosagias
Four ancient mounds (magoula) in the Kalamaki area of Magnesia attest to continuously inhabited areas from Neolithic times. Another mound dubbed Asimohoma lies in the Larisa region near Melissa, with a 5-meter-high tomb from the Classical era.
Entering the city of Feres and standing above the ancient river Samia, you will come across one of the most beautiful Byzantine buildings to have partially remained standing upright despite the passage of time. This aqueduct, which once transported water from a distant well in a Monastery, was built 800 years ago.
Three rocky hills lying 3.5 km east of Sotirio were most likely islands in the middle of ancient Lake Voiviida (today Lake Karla) were once surrounded by Mycenaean walls. The area revealed finds from ancient, classical and Byzantine periods.
The ruins of this ancient walled city on Meria hill have piqued the interest of archeologists, representing one of the most important on the Kapourna plateau. The city, which is yet to reveal its secrets, was inhabited for a long time and is within walking distance from Volos. Source: wikimapia.org
Located on the northern edge of the ancient city, the temple is one of Thessaly’s few ancient sites where archaeological excavations took place. The Doric temple had 6X6 columns and is dated to the end of the fourth century B.C.
Two ancient mounds (magoula) have been found east and south of Armenio. The largest, known as Trani, has an impressive height of 10 meters, a length of 500 meters and a width of 300 meters. Finds here hail from Neolithic, bronze, Classical and Byzantine periods. Source:Karachristos B. G.
Five vaulted tombs from the Mycenean era have been discovered on the west bank of the black Karanteres stream, complete with many votive offerings. Another was found west of the village of Megalo Monastiri.
The well-preserved vaulted tombs discovered here belong to a cemetery of the pre-geometric-geometric era (8th-10th Centuries BC). It is an extension of the cemetery created for the ancient city of Feres, which developed beside the ancient Feres – Larissa road.
Here’s a large fortified settlement from the Byzantine period spread over 130,000 square meters, with exceptional views to the coast and the valley of Agia. This area was home to the Byzantine city of Centauropolis (Kentavropoli), with walls fortified by Justinian.
Much of the walls are from the Paliochristian period, showing small and large stones with plaster, reaching up to three meters in some places. On the eastern side there is another style wall with smaller pieces of brick and stone from the middle Byzantine period. Remains of a lone tower in ruins dominate the area to this day.
Source: Dimosagias
Once a fortification lying over 21,000 meters just north of Velika, this castle was strategic in surveying coastal settlements. Its walls are two meters thick and at some points three meters high. Source: Dimosagias
Archaeological and geological studies have been carried out in around 10 caves and rock shelters around Lake Karla, including at the famous Aghios Athanasios cave, which is relatively small but highly impressive because of its beautiful rock formations.
This generally inaccessible cave is located at 3.9 km southwest of the town of Farsala in the Alogopati position, on the slopes of Karapla, above the southernmost tip of the Enipea valley. It takes around half an hour of very demanding climbing up a very steep cliff to reach the cave, which is why it is very rarely visited. For some, it’s worth it however as once there, one can see the ancient shrine dedicated to the worship of Pan and the Nymphs.
Translated as Bear Hole, this cave will enthrall all spelunkers. Stalactites adorn the cave’s main chamber which makes it a must-see. Hike to Koziakas Lake nearby.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence that the cave, located in the area of Aghios Athanasios, was used during the Mycenaean and Neolithic times. It is considered one of the most historically important caves of Karla and Magnesia in general because of the finds discovered there, and also due to its size.
Six hundred and twenty geological monuments have been recorded in Magnesia, many of which require further research and protection, including 280 caves in Pelion, Orthi, Mavrovouni, Halkodonio, Hlomo and Tisaio.
Between the Aghios Nikolaos of Flabourio and the sandy coast of Limnionas, at the edge of Veneto-Old Mitzela, small and large caves are found within the coastal rocks.
Some of these, known by the ancient Greeks as ‘Ipnoi’, have stalactites where wild pigeons and seals nestle. This maritime spot was written about by Herodotus, who described the destruction of Xerxes’ largest fleet there in 480 B.C. The Despot’s Cave, named thus because it was regularly visited by Archbishop Dimitriados Grigorios in 1905, is the most well-known amongst them and is large enough for a fishing boat to enter through.
The old village of Kanalia has the Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos with notable frescoes from the 13th and 17th centuries is also remarkable. The hill of Agios Athanassios has remains of a temple by the same name. Ruins of three fortresses are also there.
This is the most important in the region, dating from 1909. It features collections from prehistory to Roman years, such as ceramics, statues, bone tools and weapons. A collection of Neolithic figurines, clay models and vases, as well as gold jewellery are on display. Coins from Thessaly and other parts of the ancient Greek world are on display. A Mycenaean model of a chariot from the 13th Century BC, a gold necklace from ancient Pelinneon (3rd century BC) and representation of a tomb from the Protogeometric period (1050-900 BC) are also on display.
If you’re into studying nature, you’re going to love this gem of a place. The Centre for Research and Protection of Wild Orchids in Northern Pelion was established in 2012 and lies in the old school of the village of Kerasia, not far from Lake Karla.
Created in 2010 by members of the Nea Karion Women’s Association, the Folklore Museum presents aspects of the village’s cultural and social life over the past two centuries. Household items, handicrafts, agricultural tools, religious statues and traditional costumes all grace the exhibition space, while the museum also displays a photo exhibition and paintiungs by Dinos Giotopoulos.
Housed in the Zoulia mansion, the museum presents artefacts on the economic and cultural development of the area from 1900 and to the mid 20th century.
Learn more about the lesser kestrel! An information centre about this wondrous bird funded by the EU LIFE programme (LIFE+ 11 ΝΑΤ/GR/001011) was established beside the local high school in the village of Kanalia, not far from Lake Karla.
Located in the two-storey home of folklorist Kitsos Makris, the center displays his folklore collection, a library with 4,000 volumes of books and his archive, and a collection of 2,500 slides and 4,000 photographs, many of which illustrate treasures of folk tradition that cannot be found in the present day. The museum belongs to the University of Thessaly since 1989.
Visiting hours: 09:00 – 14:00 (closed on weekends).
In the village of Kanalia near Lake Karla, the Museum of Lake Karla’s Civilization offers precious insight on life around the lake before it was drained, how the livelihood of the inhabitants was compromised, and what opportunities exist for its future.
If you’re into studying nature, you’re going to love this gem of a place. The Centre for Research and Protection of Wild Orchids in Northern Pelion was established in 2012 and lies in the old school of the village of Kerasia, not far from Lake Karla.
South of the city of Farsala lies the scenic Farsala Forest, one of Greece’s 19 officially designated aesthetic forests. It occupies the northern slopes of Prophet Elias hill, covering 345 hectares. It mainly consists of pine and cypress trees as well as islets of natural vegetation. It is characterized as a suburban grove and it is an important recreational area for residents.
Kouri Forest, located around 1000 meters northwest of the town of Almiros in an area around 1150 acres in size (once as large as 20,000 acres). The lowland oak forest has a rare ecosystem by nationwide standards. The forest is covered mainly by fluff oak (Quercus pubescens) that’s around 160 years old, while Quercus ithaburensis var. macrolepis and Quercus pendunculiflora are also found there. Within the forest are two ponds, an outdoor chess board sized at 9 sq.m., a restaurant, cafeteria, and playground.
Mavrovouni is located between the plain of Thessaly and the Aegean Sea. Its northern shores are thickly forested while its southwestern slopes are covered in scrub. Two rare species of eagles survive here, the golden eagle and the snake eagle. 364,540 acres of the area are in the care of the Mavrovouni Special Protection Zone.
The forest is the area’s most admirable emblem because of its beauty and rich varieties of flora and fauna. It has been promoted to a national forest by the European Union as it is one the best organized forests in the country, offering a broad range of alternative activities such as hiking, rafting and rappel. On the side that’s near the sea, there are thickly forested slopes, gorges and cliffs. Check out our birdwatching section in Lake Karla to learn about all the bird species flourishing here.
Starting from the lush beauty of Mavrovouni, with its picturesque natural lakes and thick vegetation and reaching all the way to the Aegean sea, the area provides wonderful organized opportunities for hiking, mountaineering and climbing. This was also the countryside royal residence, the royal estate of Polydendri.
One of Thessaly’s most notable sites, the Acropolis of ancient Feres was inhabited between the neolithic period (around 300 B.C.) and the era of the early Roman Empire (first century A.D.), and again in the Byzantine period during the 13th Century. It was given its name in modern history for being the home of local author, politician and revolutionary Rigas Feraios, who was one of the heroes of the 1821 Greek Revolution. The site has undergone few renovations until the present day although its most vulnerable parts are being maintained.
The old village of Kanalia has the Byzantine church of Agios Nikolaos with notable frescoes from the 13th and 17th centuries is also remarkable. The hill of Agios Athanassios has remains of a temple by the same name. Ruins of three fortresses are also there.
Just 5 km west of Volos and close to the village of Dimini lies a grand Neolithic settlement with a high level of urban sophistication dating from the 5th century BC.
Ancient Krannon near modern-day Krannonas was an important city from Pelasgian times, flourishing between the 6th-4th centuries BC. The site reveals pyramidal tombs, as well as pottery workshops and kilns. Tombs from the classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods have also been found in the area, including a cemetery from the Early Iron Age built on a prehistoric settlement. Higher up there are remains of an acropolis, while lower elevations feature remains of its agora.
Source: Diazoma
This is the most important in the region, dating from 1909. It features collections from prehistory to Roman years, such as ceramics, statues, bone tools and weapons. A collection of Neolithic figurines, clay models and vases, as well as gold jewellery are on display. Coins from Thessaly and other parts of the ancient Greek world are on display. A Mycenaean model of a chariot from the 13th Century BC, a gold necklace from ancient Pelinneon (3rd century BC) and representation of a tomb from the Protogeometric period (1050-900 BC) are also on display.
Once a fortification lying over 21,000 meters just north of Velika, this castle was strategic in surveying coastal settlements. Its walls are two meters thick and at some points three meters high. Source: Dimosagias
If you’re into studying nature, you’re going to love this gem of a place. The Centre for Research and Protection of Wild Orchids in Northern Pelion was established in 2012 and lies in the old school of the village of Kerasia, not far from Lake Karla.
South of the city of Farsala lies the scenic Farsala Forest, one of Greece’s 19 officially designated aesthetic forests. It occupies the northern slopes of Prophet Elias hill, covering 345 hectares. It mainly consists of pine and cypress trees as well as islets of natural vegetation. It is characterized as a suburban grove and it is an important recreational area for residents.
Learn more about the lesser kestrel! An information centre about this wondrous bird funded by the EU LIFE programme (LIFE+ 11 ΝΑΤ/GR/001011) was established beside the local high school in the village of Kanalia, not far from Lake Karla.
In the village of Kanalia near Lake Karla, the Museum of Lake Karla’s Civilization offers precious insight on life around the lake before it was drained, how the livelihood of the inhabitants was compromised, and what opportunities exist for its future.
The forest is the area’s most admirable emblem because of its beauty and rich varieties of flora and fauna. It has been promoted to a national forest by the European Union as it is one the best organized forests in the country, offering a broad range of alternative activities such as hiking, rafting and rappel. On the side that’s near the sea, there are thickly forested slopes, gorges and cliffs. Check out our birdwatching section in Lake Karla to learn about all the bird species flourishing here.
The wine festival in Nea Anchialos, which began in 1960, has become one of the region’s most celebrated traditions. Crowds of locals and visitors gather to enjoy themselves and sample the local wines, honouring the ancient tradition of regional winemaking.
Learn more about the lesser kestrel! An information centre about this wondrous bird funded by the EU LIFE programme (LIFE+ 11 ΝΑΤ/GR/001011) was established beside the local high school in the village of Kanalia, not far from Lake Karla.
Located 30km southeast of Volos, the winery is an enjoyable stop as you approach Lake Karla, coming from Athens. The Apostolakis family vineyard follows old winemaking practices, inspired by Thessaly’s traditions. The Apostolaki tsipouro, a potent clear spirit made from distilled grapes, stands out for its excellent taste and quality.
The wine festival in Nea Anchialos, which began in 1960, has become one of the region’s most celebrated traditions. Crowds of locals and visitors gather to enjoy themselves and sample the local wines, honouring the ancient tradition of regional winemaking.