Description of the attraction
The Greek village of Portaria is one of the most picturesque and interesting settlements in Thesalia. Portaria is located at an altitude of 650 m above sea level on the slopes of the picturesque Mount Pelion, about 13 km from the city of Volos (capital of the Magnesia nome). This is an ideal place for those who like a calm and moderate stay.
It is believed that Portaria got its modern name from the church of Panagia Portaria, founded here in the 13th century, around which, in fact, the settlement was built. Today the ancient temple with beautifully preserved magnificent frescoes and unique icons is one of the main and oldest sights of the city.
During the domination of the Ottoman Empire, Portaria began to develop actively, and the population also increased significantly. Already in the 18th century, Portaria became an important commercial and industrial center of the region. Silk products produced here were known far beyond the borders of modern Greece. The wealth and prosperity of the city is perfectly expressed in the magnificent old mansions built during that period and perfectly preserved to this day.
Despite the fact that over the past decades Portaria has become a very popular tourist destination, the charming atmosphere of an authentic Greek settlement with the architecture traditional for this region has been preserved here (new buildings are also designed in the same style). Today Portaria is a beautifully restored old mansions (some of them turned into hotels and boarding houses), cobbled streets, many fountains and an abundance of greenery. A favorite place for the residents of Portaria and its guests, of course, is the main square, around which most of the cozy restaurants and cafes are concentrated, hiding in the shade of plane trees. The square also contains the ruins of “Mega Theoksenia” (1898-1944) - one of the most luxurious hotels in the Balkan region, which, unfortunately, was destroyed during the Second World War.
Among the local attractions, it is also worth highlighting the Church of St. Nicholas (1856) and the Byzantine monastery of St. John, located on the road to Makrinitsa.
You should definitely take a stroll through the picturesque surroundings of Portaria and walk along the famous "trail of the centaurs".
