Let the stunning vistas of Mount Pelion lift your spirits! Let’s explore the picturesque villages where time seems to stand still, feel the gentle sea breeze at the exotic beaches and get swept away by ‘Mamma Mia’ magic. This place is filled with inspiration waiting to be discovered.
Mount Pelion
One of the most beautiful and bewitching mountains in Greece, Mount Pelion towers above Volos from both the east and the north. Stretching for about 50 km2, with its peak, the Stavros rising to 1624 m, the verdant mountain of the Centaurs and myths is a very popular place for hikers and nature lovers. It’s an ideal place for mountain bikers and horse riders. Regardless of the season, Mount Pelion will seduce its visitors with its exquisite natural beauty and characteristic villages. Near Hania, there is even a ski resort for winter sports.
Tsagkarada
I adore the fact that in summer one can easily combine a half-day hiking in the lush forest with a relaxing afternoon on the beach. After wandering around the charming Tsagkarada village and admiring its enormous plane tree on Agia Paraskevi Square, we decided to head down to the white pebbled Milopotamos beach, which is often mentioned as the most exotic beach on the Pelion. Encompassed by pine trees and astonishing rock formations, it is undoubtedly a glorious place to relax and enjoy a swim. A large cave provides shade for the swimmers. It can be reached through a natural archway which is often occupied by visitors enthusiastically taking pictures of each other.
Damouchari – Mamma Mia filming location
A couple of scenes from the Mamma Mia movie were filmed in Pelion (alongside Skiathos and Skopelos islands), so because we were already on the eastern side of the peninsula, we could not leave out Damouchari, the small fishing port and the base of the local sea-kayaking company. From the parking lot I used the stairs to get down to the beach. At the corner of the staircase, I found the “Ghermaniko”, the charming guest house where the crew stayed during the filming. The tiny port was very quiet, so it wasn’t easy to imagine Donna coming down with her old jeep to meet her besties, Tanya and Rosie.
Even the olive groves around Damouchari were used for the dancing sequence that gathers the local women on the way as they are singing “Dancing Queen”. The jetty that was used in the film has been dismantled, as it did not match the peaceful character of the tiny harbour.
Damouchari beach is just a short stroll from the port. Encircled by rocky cliffs on both sides, the beach is known for its crystal-clear water and round, white pebbles. There are cafes and tavernas alongside the footpath, and at the end of the path, you can cross a wooden bridge and climb up a little to take photos of the beach.
I love this. Can I get some personal advise from You if I’m planning a trip to this area?
Lucy
Of course, Lucy!
When I visited the Pelion peninsula, I flew to Athens, hired a car and drove up to Volos. (You can read about Volos in my previous post.) It is a busy coastal port city and a great base or starting point to discover the Pelion area.
It is approx. 330 km from Athens (so, it’s a long drive) and 220 km from Thessaloniki. It might be a better option to fly to Thessaloniki and drive down from there. There are coach services from both Athens and Thessaloniki to Volos. Although the public transport on the Pelion peninsula is not great, I recommend hiring a car unless you are up for hiking. A hiking or mountain-biking holiday is also an option. Here is a great website for hiking routes. On TripAdvisor, you will find companies for both biking and hiking tours.
If you are interested in the Mamma Mia filming locations, you can visit Skiathos and Skopelos, the two islands where the first movie’s filming took place. Damouchari, the little fishing village and beach I wrote about, was where the crew lived. The part where the boys danced in scuba gear was also shot here. Here is a complete guide for you about the filming locations:
https://www.tripsavvy.com/mamma-mia-movie-locations-4165540
What an informative and nice article with beautiful photos 🥰☀️
Thanks a lot!