Magnesia

The perfecture of Magnesia occupies the east side of Thessaly, encompassing the peninsula of the same name which ends in cape Trikeri and encloses the Pagasetic gulf in its embrace. Its boundaries extend to the Northern Sporades islands of Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnissos. Among the fairest regions in Greece, Magnesia, crowned by superb Pelion, probably owes its name to the Magnetes tribe, who led by Magnes -son of Aiolos- inhabited the area in prehistoric times. Travellers, however, who may find themselves taken unawares, carried away so much beauty, may find another derivation of the word, as they find themselves "magnetised" by the place.

Much praised Pelion, with its picturesque hamlets, Volos and its port, which holds out a promise to modern-day Argonauts of travels full of surprises, gorgeous beaches, some tucked into wind-free coves, some disappearing into the infinite expanse of the Aegean Sea, are only some of the delights hidden away in this corner of Greece

Pine trees, oaks, firs, wild olive trees, chestnut trees and a myriad shrubs and plants -most of them with therapeutic properties- cover the mountains of Magnesia (Mts. Pelion, Tisaion, Orthris, Mavrovouni), which take up the greatest portion of its surface, endowing it not only with unsurpassed loveliness, but also with wealth. Magnesia is also renowned for its healthy climate; thanks to the beneficial effect of the sea surrounding it to the south and east it is blessed with mild winters and cool summers.

The shoreline formed by the large enclosed Pagasetic gulf and the Magnesia peninsula is somewhat broken up on the inner coast of the Pagasetic, while the coast facing the open sea is unidented. Another characteristic of the region that is most pronounced in Pelion is its advanced social attitude towards culture, which is revealed not only in the preservation of traditional houses but also in the locals' effort to revive tradition in their customs and habits as well as in the arts and crafts . The high standard of folk art found in the museums as well as in shops is directly linked with the daily way of life in the region today.

From the economic point of view the prefecture shows a balanced development of agriculture, industry -with the first car assembly plants in Greece- and tourism- with the on-going qualitative upgrading of infrastructure and services in this sector.

Magnesia History

Magnesia was among the first areas in Greece to be inhabited. Archaelogists have brought to light mesolithic finds from the Sarakinos cave, neolithic settlements such as Dimini and Sesklo, as well as forgotten Mycenaean cities that played an important role during the Bronze Age. All these discoveries prove that distinguished cities were founded in the district around present day Volos and that they reached their peak during the Mycenean era.

Among them was the legendary Iolkos, capital of Mycenanean Thessaly and site of today's Volos. It was from here that the Argo set off with Jason and the Argonauts for the distant shores of the Black Sea in quest of the Golden Fleece. One result of this campaign was to strength the maritime empire of that region's bold inhabitants, the Minyans; the other was to broaden the naval horizons of the period.

Homer also mentions the participation of Iolkos in the Trojan War, along with the other Magnesian cities, among which is listed Phthia, the birthplace of Achilles.

After the Mycenaean era, the cities of Magnesia began to decline and by the 4th century BC, the province was just an insignificant province of Macedonia.

During the course of Greek history, however, certain cities linked by a common characteristic -their proximity to the Pagasetic gulf- restored a measure of its glory to the region. For instance, one can cite Pagases, which flourished particularly during the 5th century BC, Dimitrias, founded in the 3rd century BC, Phthiotic Thebes, an important city during the early Christian era and Almiros, a powerful commercial centre of the 12th century.

The Turkish occupation of Magnesia was unusual in that it did not extend into the eastern, inaccessible portion of Pelion; as a result, the coastal towns were abandones in favour of the remote mountain villages there, which acquired a special cultural and economic lustre, becoming at the same time a bastion for "teachers and fighters of the Greek Nation". In the revolution of 1821 for which those people helped prepare, the flag of rebellion waved over Milies.

In 1881 with the treaty of Berlin, Magnesia, together with Thessaly, was incorporated into the free Greek state to become one of the most vital areas in the country, combining natural beauty with economic and cultural development.