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... REGION: Thessaly ... Prefecture: Magnesia ... / Volos \ ... Volos (326 km. from Athens, 215 km. from Thessaloniki) is the capital and economic center of the prefecture. Thanks to its privileged position at the foot of Mt. Pelion on the Pagasitic gulf, it is a good base for enjoying the sea, wooded slopes and green valleys that surround it. As for the derivation of the word “Volos”, which according to a Byzantine historian of the 14th century was called “Golos”, there are several theories; the most widely accepted is that it represents a corruption of the Mycenaean Iolkos. Founded in the mid 19th century, modern Volos, with 71,000 inhabitants, is a cheerful, lively town, soundly laid out with pleasant broad streets. The waterfront is an ideal spot for a stroll. A modern coastal avenue bustling with life, it is lined with pastry shops, cafes and restaurants. From the suburb of Ano Volos, built up the slopes of Pelion, the Pagasitic gulf and the town below take on another dimension. Volos harbour is a particularly active. It is the main export center of Thessaly and the scene of much commercial and passenger traffic bound for the Sporades, the great ports of the Mediterranean, Syria and other Middle Eastern cities.

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