Volos Attractions

Vólos, in the much indented Gulf of Vólos (modern Greek Pagasitikós Kólpos), rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1955, is Greece's third largest port and the principal port for the shipment of the agricultural produce of Thessaly. It has weaving mills, cement works and tobacco factories.

The town was founded only in the 14th century, although it lies in an area which has been occupied by man since the Neolithic era. The oldest settlements were found at the villages of Sésklo (fourth millennium) and Dímini (third millennium), to the west of the town. The second millennium saw the establishment, within the area of the present-day town, of the Mycenaean city of Iolkos, seat of King Pelias and home of his nephew Jason, who sailed from Iolkos with the Argonauts. To the same period belongs Pherai, situated near Lake Karla (ancient Lake Boibeis), now almost completely drained, the seat of Admetos and Alkestis; the site is at Velestinó, 20km/12.5mi northwest of Vólos, to the right of the Vólos-Lárisa road. The port of Pherai was Pagasai, from which the gulf takes its name. Immediately north of Pagasai is the site of Demetrias, founded by Demetrios Poliorketes in 193 B.C.

On the way up from the busy new town around the harbor to the eastern outskirts on the slopes of Mt Pelion an extensive view opens up. On the northwest side of the town, to the right of the Lárisa road, remains of Mycenaean buildings have been brought to light between the railroad and the river. Here an earlier palace built about 1400 B.C. was succeeded by a later one, which was destroyed by fire about 1200 B.C.

Buses from Athens. Boat connections with the Sporades and Kymi (Euboea). Station on the Vólos-Lárisa and Vólos-Palaiofársalos railroad lines.