Volos

The Athanasiko Archaeological Museum of Volos is a must-see attraction that was built in 1909 and is set in a beautiful rose garden. Many of the objects on display were discovered in the early 20th century or during modern excavations in Thessaly, with some of the earliest finds from the archaeological sites of Sesklo and Dimini (the latter is the home of ancient Iolkos, from where Jason and the Argonauts set out). There are incredible collections from the Neolithic era to the Roman times, including coins, jewelry, gold artifacts, tools, weapons, rare grave stelae and ancient tombs, and figurines. On a more modern note, the Volos Museum of the City, located in a former tobacco warehouse in the city’s Palaia district, features evocative photos that trace the history of Volos from the 1800s onward with a fascinating section on the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey. Don’t miss the great museum cafe.

Argonauts Avenue is a pretty promenade that runs along with the port and leads to a replica of Jason and the Argonaut’s ancient Argo ship. As you follow the paved walkway around the seafront, you’ll spot lots of yachts and colorful fishing boats and you’ll come across an array of tsipouradika tavernas for which Volos is renowned. These casual eateries serve up some of the city’s most delicious food accompanied by a tsipouro, or pomace brandy. With just under 600 tsipouradika in Volos, they’re a gastronomic destination in their own right. You just order the tsipouro and when it’s served it will come accompanied by two or three tasty mezedes, or meze (small plates) consisting of fish and fried seafood mezedes, meat dishes, olives, cheese, pickled vegetables, smoked red pepper, stuffed vine leaves and more. If the plates seem small don’t worry because with each little bottle of tsipouro will come more meze! For a heartier option, try the spentzofáï, a local stew made with sliced pork sausage, shallots and green and red peppers.

Otherworldly, enchanting, simply stunning: the extraordinary rock formations and cliff-top monasteries of Meteroa invite superlatives. Located in the heart of western Thessaly, the UNESCO-listed monastery complex of Meteora—which means ‘suspended in air’— is one of the most popular day trips from Volos. Film buffs might recognize the unique landscape of the area and the huge protruding rocks reaching upwards of 400 meters in height from the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only. These stone giants are the unlikely foundations for some of the largest and most precipitously built Eastern Orthodox monasteries, some dating back to the late 11th century.

Seeing really is believing when it comes to Meteora, where after a drive through the countryside from Volos, your eyes will be drawn to the sky as these giant rocks appear out of nowhere. At their feet, you’ll find the sleepy village of Kastraki, but the spiritual energy is literally on a higher level here. Out of 30 historical monasteries, six are still in use and open to the public, including the monasteries of Rousanou (today a nunnery), Varlaam which was built in 1541 and is today home to seven monks, Holy Trinity, St Stephen (also now a nunnery), St Nicholas Anapausas with just one monk in residence and the mid-14th century Great Meteoron which is the largest. Their exquisite frescoes are a sight to behold as are the panoramic views from the top. The spectacular monasteries can be reached by staircases cut into the rocks—and trust us when we say the breathtaking views from the top are well worth the climb!