Hotels in Thessaly - Central Greece
Greece

Hotels in Thessaly - Central Greece

Thessaly lies in central Greece and borders the regions of Macedonia on the north, Epirus on the west, Central Greece on the south and the Aegean Sea on the east. The region is one of the most mountainous in Greece, having some of the highest elevations in the country. Central Greece has also some of the largest lakes in Greece, while amongst the most important is Mornos lake in Phocis, which supplies water around the prefecture, parts of the Phthiotis and Boeotia prefectures and Athens as well.

80 of Greece's 752 hot springs are located in Aidipsos, making it a popular tourist destination. The spas date back more than 20,000 years.

The Meteora monasteries are located in Kalabaka. Kalabaka is the northwestern terminal of the old Thessaly Railways, now part of OSE. Kalabaka was voted as one of the most beautiful places in Greece by the Skai TV show I LOVE GR. Kalabaka is built on the location of the ancient city of Aiginion. The name "Kalabaka" was given 6-7 centuries ago. It is of Turkish origin and means "powerful fortress".

Larissa is a major commercial and industrial centre in Greece. Legend has it that Achilles was born here and Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, died here as well. The city is said in Greek mythology to have been founded by Acrisius, who was killed accidentally by his grandson, Perseus. There lived Peleus, the hero beloved by the gods, and his son Achilles; however, the city is not mentioned by Homer, unless it should be identified with Argissa of the Iliad. In mythology, the nymph Larissa was a daughter of the primordial man Pelasgus. Larissa is thought to be where the famous Greek physician Hippocrates and the famous philosopher Gorgias of Leontini died. The local football club AEL 1964 FC currently participates in Super League Greece. The team became Greek Champion in 1988 and won the Greek Cup in 1985 & 2007.

Makrakomi is built on the southern slopes of Western Othrys at an altitude of 280 m. It overlooks the river Spercheios and its valley. This market town bears the name of the ancient Aenian town "Makra Komi" [Long Town] whose ruins can be seen in Prophet Elias. "Makra Komi" is mentioned by the historian Livy (Titus Livius) in his description of the destruction of Sperchias by the Aetolians. The hillock of Prophet Elias, the little church of Agia Paraskevi (set in an overgrown site with cypress trees), the Acropolis of Makrakomi (which affords a splendid view over the plain) and the hillock of Lavanitsa are all worth visiting. Local meat from free range animals and delicious sausages traditionally produced. Wine and raki from the mountainous vineyards of Makrakomi, Tsouka and Platistomo. Famous local produce includes kiwi berries from Kastri and shelled peanuts from Makri. Try kokoretsi, splinantero, kontosouvli (skewered and grilled meats) and other local specialities in the many taverns and restaurants in Makrakomi and the surrounding villages.

Skiathos is a small Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea. Skiathos is the westernmost island in the Northern Sporades group, east of the Pelion peninsula in Magnesia on the mainland, and west of the island of Skopelos. Much of the island is wooded with Aleppo Pine and a small Stone Pine forest at the Koukounaries location where there is a second lagoon and a fine-textured popular beach. The island's forests are concentrated on the southwest and northern parts but the presence of pine trees is prevalent throughout the island. The film Mamma Mia was partially filmed on Skiathos and nearby island Skopelos. This has increased it's popularity as a tourist destination since the release of the successful movie.

Built at the innermost point of the Pagasetic Gulf and at the foot of Mount Pilio or Pelion (the land of the Centaurs), Volos is the only outlet towards the sea from Thessaly, the country's largest agricultural region. Volos is the third of Greece's major commercial ports, but also gains significant traffic because of its connections by ferry and hydrofoil to the nearby Sporades Islands, which include Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. There are also connections to Limnos, Lesvos, Chios and Skyros.

Home to the University of Thessaly, one of the most important in the country, the city also offers a wide range of facilities for the organisation of conferences, exhibitions and major cultural and scientific events, together with international-standard sporting amenities. Volos participated in the 1996 Olympic Games, and as an Olympic City it helped to present a new face of contemporary Greece to a world audience. The city has also since played host to a succession of athletic events, such as the European Athletic Championships. The city of Volos has always had a major role in the financial, economic, commercial and administrative matters of the region of Thessaly and Central Greece, due to the strategic position of the city's port, unique between Athens and Thessaloniki. Several European countries have established consulates in Volos.