Secret Greece: skiing with a view to the sea in Mt Pilio

Pilio ski resort

The magnificent mountain in the heart of the Prefecture of Magnesia, which according to mythology was the summer residence of the Olympian gods and home of the Centaurs, is one of the favourite Greek destinations for getaways all year round, as it combines the mountain and the sea landscape in a unique way;Its villages claim a prize of traditional architecture; the local cuisine is very interesting; and tourist infrastructure is highly developed. In addition, as the distances are short, if you are a winter swimmer, in the morning you can take a plunge into the sea and a little later enjoy skiing in the small but quite remarkable ski center of “Agriolefkes”, which is near the village of Chania and is one of the most well hidden secrets of the mountain, at least to its foreign visitors. Portaria and Makrinitsa, the most developed – tourismwise – villages of the area stand out, along with Milies, Vysitsa and Pinakates, with their marvelous stone-built mansions. On the eastern side of Pilio, take note of the large village of Tsangarada, where activities in the nature are offered by very interesting guesthouses such as “Amanita” (www.amanita.gr), with frequent theme weekends and a great view to the islands of the Sporades. In the nearby village of Mouresi, the “Agapitos Villas & Guesthouses” (www.pelion-agapitos.com) complex has recently returned fully renovated, with the very interesting restaurant “El” as an additional advantage.