Portaria is in Pelio, Magnesia.
Built at an altitude of 650 meters, Portaria has spectacular views of Volos and the whole Pagasitic Gulf. It is undeniably one of the most popular villages in the entire area. The nique natural beauty, together with the picturesque cobbled streets and stunning typical Pelion mansions, make Portaria a favorite tourist destination, particularly during the winter period.
Some of the best hotels and guest houses you have ever seen will be in Portaria. Your stay here will be memorable, as well as the food you'll have the chance to taste in one of the excellent restaurants and taverns of the village. Great cafes, bars and shops with gifts, folk art, local goods and general memorabilia, complement the scenery and make Portaria one of the most comprehensive tourist destinations you have ever visited.
What do you think? Portaria is the destination!
Mount Pelion is in the eastern part of Magnesia.
Pelion is one of the most famous mountains in Greece, due to its rich history, the countless mythological references and - most importantly - its great natural beauty.
In mythology the Pelion is referred to as the summer residence of the Olympian gods, say something like ... a country house. As we all know country houses are made in beautiful places, so imagine the beauty of the area chosen by gods.
Pelion is characterized by lush vegetation with beeches, oaks, sycamores, apple trees, pear trees, olives, lemon, almond and walnut trees that make the mountain verdant. An important role is played by the several springs in that area, as well as the rainfalls that exceed the average.
The 24 villages and the dozens of settlements located in Pelion are in total harmony with the natural landscape. Milies, Makrinitsa, Portaria, Tsagarada, Zagora and the other picturesque villages attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. The number of visitors increases in winter, thanks to Pelion Ski Centre that attracts winter sports enthusiasts.
The entire Pelion is an excellent field for those who love hiking and climbing, as it has wonderful routes crossing impressive landscapes and high peaks exheeding 1500 m.
Pelion is one of those places in Greece that you must definitely visit, at least once in your life.
The Metsovo Folklore Museum is in Metsovo, in the region of Ioannina.
Since 1955, it is housed in the three-story mansion of Tositsa family and operates under the auspices of the charitable foundation Baron Michael Tositsas.
In Metsovo Folk Museum visitors can admire among others:
- Embroidered traditional costumes
- Weaving and embroidery
- Traditional wooden furniture
- Coins, weapons and everyday objects
On the third floor of the museum, belongings and photos of the politician Evangelos Averof-Tositsas are exhibited, as he was personally interested in the establishment and operation of the museum.
More information about the Folklore Museum of Metsovo can be found in the number 26560 39 580.
Approximately 14 km from Ioannina, in Bizani, lies the Greek History Museum Paul Vrellis, also known as Wax museum.
The building that houses the Greek History Museum Paul Vrellis was founded in 1983 and was completed in 1994. Its design, as the entire museum's too, was made by a single man, Paul Vrellis. He envisioned a museum that would depict life-size historical events from different regions of Greece, and made it his life purpose to create it. The result is far more impressive than he imagined.
In Greek History Museum Paul Vrellis visitors can admire 36 compositions inspired by significant events of Greek history. All compositions include well-made, life-sized wax figures of finest detail.
Observing them carefully, you will feel you are at the time of the depicted events; an invisible witness to everything. Some of the exhibits-performances that stand out are The Secret School, the oath of Filiki Eteria (Society of Friends ) and the headquarters of 8th Division in a cave during the Second World War. Yet, each representation has its own unique beauty.
In the area of museum you can also visit the workshop of Paul Vrellis, where the artist was inspired and created his works.
The museum's founder passed away in 2010, but what he left behind is a significant creation that you absolutely have to see.
Museum of Greek History Pavlos Vrellis: Address, 12th km Ioannina-Athens Highway, Bizani, Ioannina.
More information concerning the Museum of Greek History Pavlos Vrellis, can be found in www.vrellis.gr and the number 26510 92128.
The Ali Pasha Museum is on the island in lake Pamvotis, in Ioannina .
It is dedicated to Ali Pasha of Tepelena, who served as an Ottoman pasha (1788-1822) and his court was in Ioannina. Because of his strong character and his governance that was strict and at times, he was also called The Lion of Ioannina. Probably these characteristics brought him into conflict with the Sultan of the Sublime Porte, who declared him guilty of high treason and sent an enormous army against him. After fierce resistance, Ali Pasha fled to the island of the lake of Ioannina, where he was murdered during negotiations for his surrender. His head was sent to the Sultan in Istanbul, while the headless body was buried in the family tomb located in the seraglio, in the Castle of Ioannina.
The Ali Pasha Museum is housed in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon, in the building where Ali Pasha sought shelter and was eventually murdered. Visitors can still see the holes from the bullets that pierced the floor and killed Ali Pasha who was upstairs. In the museum there are also exhibits of weapons, costumes, jewelry, personal items of Ali Pasha and other small items of the time.
If you find yourself on the island of Lake Ioannina, the Ali Pasha Museum is definitely worth visiting.
The Folklore Museum of Ioannina "Costas Frontzos" was created on the initiative of the Company of Epirus Research (EHM, www.ehm.gr) to rescue, collect and display items of Epirus tradition.
The Folklore Museum of Ioannina "Costas Frontzos" is housed in a 19th century mansion that previously hosted the Didaskalio of Ioannina and the Zosimaia pedagogy. In the halls of the museum, visitors can observe typical exhibits from Epirus life and tradition, such as:
- Men's and women's traditional clothes
- Embroidery and textiles
- Silversmith, goldsmith and pottery
- Agricultural tools, craftsmen tools and everyday objects
Also, in the museum you will see representation of a traditional housewife room and an urban house
Folklore Museum of Ioannina "Costas Frontzos": Address, Mihael Agelou 42, Ioannina.
More information about the Folklore Museum of Ioannina can be found in the number 26510 39 580.
