The road southeast of Volos to Agria, a coastal suburb with an extensive beach in a fertile district filled with olive groves and orchards. The chapel of the Virgin of Goritsa and the icon screen with carved and painted scenes from everyday life in the chapel of the Holy Cross are sure to leave an impression

From Agria a secondary road rises 12 km to Drakia (17.5 km from Volos, alt. 500 m.), a village characterised by lush vegetation, running streams, well-made alleyways and marvellous popular "tower houses". The main square, thought by historians to be the oldest in Pelion, hosts a folk festival on the 23rd of August, complete with traditional costumes and music.

After Agria the main road passes by Kato and Ano Lehonia, where most of Pelion's cultivated flowers are grown and sold. The air is scented with the blossoms of gardenias, hortensias, camellias and tuberoses. Platanidia, the port of Ano Lehonia is a good place for fresh fish.

Continuing south the main road proceeds towards the long beach of Malaki before arriving at Kato Gadgea (17 km.), a village blessed with protected beaches and surrounded by a vast olive grove. Next comes Kala Nera (20 km. from Volos), another seaside village with a beach, leafy plane trees, orchards and abundant water.

A side road to the east winds 7 kilometres up the mountainside to Milies (28 km. from Volos, alt. 360 m.), one of the most delightful larger villages of Pelion and an important cultural centre, as witnessed by the wealth of rare books and manuscripts in its library. Some of its traditional homes have been renovated to operate as guest houses. Milies also has a fine collection of folk art (local museum), while its little railway station - the end of the old Volos line - is particularly attractive. You can try the local speciality "tyropsomo" (cheese-bread) and "firikia", a kind of lady apple. Just 3 kilometres further up the road you will find Vizitsa (32 km. from Volos, alt. 450 m.), a mountain village concealed among plane trees whose lovely Pelion-style towers and magnificent old mansions have led to its declaration as a landmark settlement protected from unseemly development. Some of the latter have been renovated by the GNTO and are run as guest houses. If you feel like forgetting your cares and troubles for a while, try a little of the potent local brew, "tsipouro".

Back on the main road, you pass through more olive groves and orchards on the way to Koropi which occupies the site of the ancient city of the same name, famous in the past as the home of the Oracle of Apollo Koropaios.

On the 24th kilometer of the main road, a short deviation will take you to Afissos (26 km. from Volos) with various magnificent beaches.

The main road, which starts its ascent of Pelion after Afetes, forks near here: after Neohori the northern branch leads to Tsangarada passing through Lambinou, with a stunning view of the Aegean; while the southern branch goes to the big village of Argalasti (40 km. from Volos, alt. 250 m.), situated on a fertile plateau renowned for its olives. Several secondary roads radiate out from Argalasti to the seaside villages ob Kalamos and Paos on the Pagasetic gulf and the mountain hamlets of Kallithea, Xinovrisi and Paltsi, on the Aegean coast.

Continuing south there is a succession of sandy beaches one after the other as far as Milina, a pretty summer resort. After Milina the road has recently been extended as far as Trikeri (82 km.), the lovely village at the tip of the Magnesia peninsula. Up to now communications with Volos were possible only by boat via the little port of Agia Kiriaki, a charming fishing hamlet whose taverns specialize in seafood.

The weddings in local costume and the traditional customs observed there during Easter week and on May Day are not to be missed if you happen to be in Greece in the spring.

East of Milina the road goes on to Lafkos and Promiri, a typical example of a village submerged in olive trees, winding up in Platania, a quaint fishing village to the south.