The balcony of Mount Pelion
Known as the balcony of Pelion, Makrinitsa offers the best panoramic view of Volos and the Pagasetic Gulf. Walking amongst the elegant mansions on the cobbled alleys gives the impression of stepping back in time – the village was mostly populated by wealthy people, so its traditional mansions are richly decorated with folk motifs. Even in the summer heat, the large plane and chestnut trees will provide enough shade to make your stroll pleasant around the two settlements of the village: Koukourava and Moutsara.
Colourful shops (with local products, hand-made ceramics and jewellery), cafes and galleries line the footpath leading to the main square. Even with the small children running around and boys playing football in one corner, Makrinitsa offers tranquillity to its guests with its natural beauty, .
Natural fountains, herbs and teas
Around Pelion there are plenty of natural fountains, and people often come with large containers or plastic bottles to take fresh water from them. On Makrinitsa’s main square, there is a marble fountain from the 19th century, and its refreshing, clear water is called the ‘water of immortality’ by the locals.
I found this place magical, so I bought some freshly picked oregano and Greek mountain tea to remember it when I am back home.
The Greek mountain tea and its benefits
The Greek mountain tea is a native herb of the mountainous area of Greece, well-liked by Greek people and more and more popular worldwide too. All “yiayia”s, Greek grannies, have made this tea for their grandchildren, so drinking it as an adult brings back childhood memories – as my Greek friend told me.
This tea was known and widely used (even Hippocrates mentioned it) in Ancient Greece as “sideritis”. The name comes from the Greek word “sidero”, which means “iron”, because this herb could cure wounds caused by iron (weapons). According to another theory, they gave this name to the plant because of its high iron content.
Traditionally, it is used for digestive problems and against colds and respiratory illnesses. It is also considered to be pain-relieving and anti-epileptic. It is free of caffeine and its fresh leaves contain Vitamin C.
Researchers proved that certain types of this herb (there are 17 species in Greece) can have a preventive effect against osteoporosis; German studies support that mountain tea can help prevent Alzheimer’s. I just use it against the common cold or just to enjoy its heartwarming taste with a little bit of Greek honey on a rainy afternoon.
Portaria – Mount Pelion’s ski resort and the starting point of the Centaurs’ Path
Just a 20-30 minute walk from Makrinitsa, the bustling village of Portaria is the most cosmopolitan amongst Pelion’s mountain villages. In winter, it operates as a ski resort, and its proximity to the sea makes it a popular destination throughout the summer too. Traditional guest houses, luxurious hotels, rooms to let, tavernas, cafes and shops selling local products and all kinds of souvenirs make Portaria a popular travel destination all year round.
Centaurs’ Path
Next to the Nephele Treats and Tales cafeteria starts the Centaurs’ path route. We truly enjoyed this short (approx. half an hour) walk alongside the tranquil stream: crossing little wooden bridges, climbing up amongst the large trees, and admiring the splendid nature around us. It was just as enchanting as the centaurs themselves in the mythological stories. It is not difficult to imagine water nymphs dancing around the stream and wild centaurs roaming amongst the trees.
The path is marked with red circles, which I advise you to follow. We did deviate from it and ended up in the middle of a herd of goats on the slope, facing a rather angry shepherd dog. Luckily, the shepherd was present and greeted us kindly while calming his dog down.
On the way back we stopped at the fountains to refresh ourselves with the fresh spring water. There are plenty of drinking fountains. Locals are coming here regularly to fill up their bottles and containers. They don’t just use this treasure of Mother Earth; they keep the fountains and their village clean to protect the quality of their water. Often, little notices are put over the fountains to remind people to protect the environment and the “water of God”. In Greece, usually the tap water is not suitable for drinking, so it was great to refill our water bottles several times with refreshing cool water.
