Volos Maps

Volos is a coastal city in Thessaly, central Greece, built at the foot of Mount Pelion near the innermost point of the Pagasetic Gulf. The city has a population of approximately 150,000 in the metropolitan area, making it the sixth-largest urban area in Greece. Volos serves as the capital of the Magnesia regional unit and is an important industrial and commercial center.

The city is built near ancient Iolcos, the legendary homeland of Jason and the Argonauts, who departed from here in their quest for the Golden Fleece. The ancient site of Dimini, located just outside the city, contains important Neolithic settlements dating to approximately 4800-3300 BCE, with distinctive stone walls forming concentric circles. The nearby site of Sesklo features remains from one of Europe's oldest farming communities, dating to around 6000 BCE.

The Archaeological Museum of Volos displays an extensive collection of painted funerary stelae from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, unique to the region, along with Neolithic artifacts from local excavations. The Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum houses prehistoric collections. Modern Volos was rebuilt following destructive earthquakes in 1955, resulting in wide streets and modern urban planning. The waterfront promenade extends for several kilometers, lined with numerous tsipouradika, traditional restaurants serving tsipouro (a Greek spirit) with mezze, a distinctive feature of local culture.

The city serves as the gateway to Mount Pelion, a mountain of great beauty and mythological significance, known for its traditional villages, dense forests, and beaches. The Pelion Railway, a narrow-gauge scenic railway built in 1895, connected Volos to mountain villages, though sections are now closed. The city's port provides ferry connections to the Northern Sporades islands. The University of Thessaly, established in 1984, has a major campus in Volos. The city hosts an annual carnival celebration and maintains a reputation for high-quality local cuisine.