Greek Mountain Villages

Μετάφραση

Pinakates

Pinakates is a traditional, picturesque mountain village and one of the most authentic and well-preserved villages of Pelion, mainly due to its remote location. The village has been so well preserved, having retained its local architecture because until recently just one road connected Pinakates with the other villages of Pelion. Therefore, with the presidential decree of 1980, it declared as a protected village along with Vyzitsa and Makrinitsa. 

Well-hidden at an altitude of 560 meters, on the southwestern slopes of the mountain, offers great views over the Pagasitic Gulf. It is situated 25 km away from the city of Volos, near the villages of Agios Georgios, Milies and Vyzitsa. It is believed, that the name Pinakates derives from a local resident, called “pinakia’, meaning the maker of clay or wooden dishes that in the local dialect were called "pinakia".

The first written reference to Pinakates dates back to 1791, in the Modern Geography of Greece by Daniil Filippidis and Grigoriou Konstantas. At that time, the village had about 100 houses, but surely it was built much earlier. In 1860, the village had 160 families and 800 inhabitants while at the beginning of the 20th century in the village there was a primary school with 56 students.

Many stone mansions and old houses, cobbled streets and marble fountains travel visitors back in time, making Pinakates one of the most atmospheric villages of Pelion. Nowadays many of the old mansions have been renovated and turned into small family hotels. In the main square stands the 500-year-old plane tree, the church of Agios Dimitrios and an impressive water fountain, decorated with 4 lion heads, built in 1894. Even today, fresh water runs and cools the visitors. From the square starts a well-signed cobbled path that connects the village with Glyka Nera. Its length is 4.7 km, and can be walked in about 2 hours.

Among the most important events is the celebration of Agios Dimitrios on August, 20, day on which a feast is organized, accompanied by local delicacies, tsipouro and wine. The church of Agios Athanasios celebrates on May, 2 while around the village there are many tiny chapels, such as that of Holy Apostles, on a hill above the village, or the chapel of Agia Kyriaki overlooking Pinakates and the Pagasitic Gulf.

The beaches located closer to Pinakates are Kala Nera, Koropi and Kato Gatzea in the Pagasitic Gulf and the beaches of Kalamaki and Lambinou on the Aegean side.