Visiting Tsagarada, I could never believe that I would leave so fascinated. A place that offered awesome images, unique experiences and wonderful acquaintances. Built amphitheatrically on a verdant slope, it combines in harmony the mountain with the sea, giving a unique view of the Aegean and the verdant slopes of Pelion.
A few words about the village
Tsagarada is one of the most famous villages of Pelion, just 55 km southwest of Volos. It belongs to the Municipality of Zagora - Mouresi and has about 543 inhabitants. The name of the village has been the occasion for many contradictory versions around its origin. The most common one claims that it comes from shoes and is based on the fact that the village was once called "Tsagarades". Another version says that in the past there were many herds (tsagadia) in the area, while finally some rely on the etymology of foreign words, mainly Slavic, related to the "nice view". However, the first name of the village was Kastanea. Tsagarada consists of four smaller neighborhoods, which took their name from the churches located in their central squares. Older is St. Taxiarches, while the rest are St. Paraskevi and St. Stephen, located along the public road, and St. Kyriaki, which stretches low on the slope of the mountain to the sea. All the districts are connected with the stone cobbled streets! Underneath, I have selected for you, what I think someone who visits the village for the first time should see.
10) Holy Church of St. Kyriaki
In the center of St. Kyriaki square, dominates the homonymous holy church. This is the pride of the district, which has as its trademark its imposing bell tower. It was built in 1886, and today is open only during its celebration, which is on July 7.
9) Athos Hill
The Athos Hill is located at an altitude of 820 meters and took its name from the church of St. Athanasios in Mount Athos, located there. The whole scene is enchanting, since the temple is surrounded by tall beeches, while at the point there are still wooden tables, ideal for picnic, when the weather permits. During the summer, when it celebrates (July 5), a folk festival is organized, which gathers a lot of people from the surrounding areas.
8) St. Stephen's Church
The Holy Church of St. Stephen is located in the main square of the homonymous district. The date of construction of the church is the distant 1772, while in the middle of the 20th century it suffered some damage causing a decrease in its height. It may not fill your eye externally, but it is worth visiting to admire its special icons and the archieratic throne, which exist inside. In early August, on the day of the feast of St. Stephen, a festival is also held here.
7) Nanopoulos School
The Nanopouios School is the building that currently houses the Elementary School of Tsagarada and the surrounding villages. It was donated by Nikolaos Nanopoulos in the early 20th century and initially functioned as an economic High School. The building itself is a representative example of Pelion architecture, built naturally with local stone, having a wooden roof, which is covered by slate slabs of the area. During the summer months the venue is used to hold theatrical performances, exhibitions, concerts and various other cultural events.
6) Achillopoulos Commercial School
The Achillopoulos Commercial School was a donation of the brothers Achillopoulos, Sophocles and Evangelos, to the residents of the village of Tsagarada. It was founded in 1865 and was originally urban, while in 1905 it became commercial, where people from all over Greece studied. The purpose of the establishment of this school was to promote secondary specialized education both in the village and in the wider area. The Commercial School operated continuously, even during the war years, until 1955, when the strong earthquakes of that year, hit the building's static. For years the building remained unused, until 2001, when it was exemplary restored taking its current form. In the following years it served as an exhibition space, folklore museum and miniature museum, while today the school remains closed until further notice.
5) Old Bridge
One of the most notable sights of the area is the Old Arched Bridge. This is a stone bridge, located at the beginning of the village and dates from the 18th century (1728)! It has a length of 18 meters and a height of 6 meters, while it is estimated to be the oldest in the whole of Pelion. The access is very easy, as long as you follow the sign "old bridge" on the main road. The downhill stone cobbled path will lead you to a charming place full of plane trees and chestnut trees, where behind the dense vegetation the bridge fades. There you will have the opportunity to relax on the wooden benches on the spot and harmonize with nature.
4) Mylopotamos beach
Mylopotamos beach is one of the most famous and most impressive beaches of Pelion and in general of the prefecture of Magnesia. It is a place that has nothing to envy from other photographed seaside places of the rest of the world, which is why it attracts many tourists during the summer months. Sand, fine pebbles, turquoise waters, plenty of natural shade, rocks for diving and exploration are some of its main features. It is essentially a double beach, separated by an enormous rock, which serves as a gateway from one beach to another. In one part of the beach, there is a beach bar with sunbeds and umbrellas, but I will not lie to you, during the intense tourist season it is difficult to find a place, not only in the beach bar, but also in the rest of the beach.
The locals, however, do not prefer the beach of Mylopotamos, but Limanaki. Limanaki is the end of the gorge of Mylopotamos and is a hidden diamond of the area. There you will not find hordes of tourists, and you will be able to enjoy in peace, its turquoise waters.
3) St. Taxiarches Square
The square of St. Taxiarches is one of the busiest places in the village and is, of course, located in the center of the homonymous district. Two things that make this square special, the Holy Temple of St. Taxiarches and the impressive fountain that stands in front of it. The first was completed in 1746 and stands out for its Venetian type iconostasis, while inside there is an icon of the Virgin Mary, which has been created and signed by over 200 residents of the area! The fountain now stands out for its four fountains, one on each side, which ranks it among the most beautiful in Pelion.
2) Fakistra Beach and Hidden School
Fakistra is the second beach that you should definitely explore if you are in Tsagarada. The imposing cliffs and the beach with the turquoise waters will excite you. According to the British newspaper Guardian, it is in seventh place with the most impressive beaches in the world. To get there, just walk about ten minutes on a trail and you will be confronted with this wild natural beauty, native landscape. Going down to the beach, you will discover an incredible chapel in the rock, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the locals call it a "secret school". If you get there, do not start unorganized. You should definitely have water and your umbrella with you, as the natural shade of the rocks is not enough for everyone.
1) St. Paraskevi Square
Finally, in the first place I have placed the paved Square of St. Paraskevi. And in this square there is, of course, a Holy Temple, that of St. Paraskevi, only in this case it is not its landmark. Instead, in this particular square, the protagonist is the thousand-year-old plane tree, whose perimeter is 15 meters! It is one of the oldest trees in Greece and perhaps in Europe and despite its age, the general condition of the tree is very good. Back to church now. The construction of the church was completed in 1909 and is the place where the Divine Liturgy is performed on Sundays and on all major holidays. During the summer, when it celebrates (July 26), a folk festival is organized around the square. Finally, in this place, going down some steps, you will find the fountain of St. Paraskevi, which dates from the distant 1890.
Where to stay
Tsagarada is a small village, but it has many accommodations in which one can stay. If you ask me, choice is only one, Iris Guesthouse. This is a beautiful guest house, which has spacious and well-equipped rooms. Each of them has borrowed the name and scent of a different flower, while there is parking, something rare find for the area. Also, while there, one will have the opportunity to taste local flavors and products, literally from production to consumption. Handmade pastries, homemade pies, fruits and vegetables from their garden, dairy and eggs from their animals and herbs, collected by themselves.
Where and what to eat
Since you are in the area, it is advisable to try some of the local flavors as well. Of course, you should start from the trademark dish of Pelion and in general of the region, “spetsofai”. It is a very simple food made with just four ingredients, tomatoes, olive oil, peppers and, of course, sausages. A kind of sausage is also the next thing to taste there, the “boubari”. This one is stuffed with rice and chopped beef heart and lungs, while it is cooked coiled like a spiral in the oven and served with potatoes. And of course, what better than to combine these two appetizers with kopanisti from Volos. An orange cheese sause, which has taken its color from the local peppers used in the execution. Still, I suggest you try “tsitsiravla” and “kolitsianos”. The first are young shoots from the wild pistachio, made pickled with vinegar and a little garlic, while the second, some flowers picked from the sea and fried in batter. And because every meal must have dessert, in Tsagarada, you will find spoon sweets, literally from everything. What is most famous, however, is the small rose apple tree that grows on the slopes of Pelion, “firiki”. All this together with other delicious delicacies, you will find in Agnanti, located in the square of St. Taxiarches.
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
