Saint Lawrence, from the oldest villages of Pelion, with impressive mansions

Greece Thessaly 28 November 2020 Like

THE Saint Lawrence is built amphitheatrically on a fertile slope, to 550 -600 m. altitude, with a nice view of the Pagasitic gulf. He owes his name to Monastery of Agios Lavrentios founded in 14^The century. in the area, by Saint Lawrence, for this reason it is considered one of the oldest villages of Pelion as it was developed by the craftsmen of the Monastery.

Traditional settlement with impressive mansions (18^th ) which are excellent examples of Pelion architecture, made by Epirus craftsmen, with many northern Helladic elements. Towers, tripods, with solid volume of stone, elevated entrance, small windows and eaves or sahnisi as they are called (ledge supported by wooden beams).

Indicative tower houses of the village are : "The house of Apostolos Stellos" (before 1712), "Zarifis' house" (1716), Glavani Mansion (about 1750), Kostis Mansion (1836), "Efi Liatzoura House" (about the 1820) etc. (information and guided tours of the mansions of the village : http://www.openvillage.gr).

Today, the old mansions, have been renovated and serve as residences or hostels.

The village has a large network of cobbled streets for walking, one of the longest in Europe, in which cars are not allowed.

You will have to park on the plateau or station (for locals) that is, where the main road ends.

The scholar was born in Agios Lavrentios Daniel the Magnth (1769-1856) and the actor of the old Greek cinema Lavrentis Dianellos (1911-1978).

THE Βρύχωνας is the stream of Pelion, which crosses Agios Lavrentios and flows into the Pagasitikos, in the village of Kato Lechonia.

AGIOS LAVRENTIOS - SIGHTS

Central square

Centuries-old plane trees, a clock, taverns, cafes and the old traditional grocery that operates here from 1924, the "Grocery M.. Kokkinou».

CENTRAL SQUARE - CLOCK , "Grocery M.. ΚΟΚΚΙΝΟΥ »

Hatzini Square

Quiet, ideal for relaxation, with a nice view to the "martyr village" Drakeia and the Pagasitic gulf.

Holy Monastery of Agios Lavrentios (14^th ), in A. of the village

It is built at an altitude 610 m. below the main square and is now part of the settlement. The Monastery was founded or re-established in 1378 by Saint Lawrence, monk of the Monastery of the Great Lavra of Mount Athos, on the ruins of an old monastery, as stated in an inscription on the Temple. The donor was the emperor Alexios III Komnenos. From a Latin inscription found on the wall of the Temple, it is probable that it pre-existed from 12^The century. as the Monastery of St. Andrew with Benedictine monks from Amalfi, Italy. During the Turkish occupation it functioned as a "secret school". The 1823, when the village was looted by the Turks, the monastery was destroyed and then overshadowed. From 1987 is a nunnery and today has few nuns. celebrated on 10 May of Saint Lawrence and on 10 August in memory of Saint Lawrence of the Archdeacon. Monastery Telephone : 24280 96226.

Temple Agios Apostolos the Younger

The Holy Apostle the Younger (1667-1686) was born in Agios Lavrentios. At a young age he moved to Istanbul where after torture, beheaded on 16-8-1686, at the age 19 years. He was also proclaimed a Saint at the place where his house in Agios Lavrentios was located, a majestic temple was built where his Holy Cross. celebrated on 16 August, in the presence of the Metropolitan of Demitriados (Temple phone : 24210 27945).

AGIOS LAVRENTIOS - FOR FOOD

The inhabitants of the village up to the authorities 19^thc., were mainly engaged in the cultivation and trade of olives, hence the many dilapidated olive mills in the area. The slope is full of olive trees, apple trees, φιρικιές (small apple, PDO product), pears, cherries, chestnut.

The traditional food of Pelion is the famous spentzofai (local spicy sausage in slices with peppers), boumbari (intestine filled with heart, lung, ground beef, rice, spices), goat in the oil paste or in the hull, bean soup, handmade pasta, riganokeftedes, zucchini flowers stuffed, various pies such as piperopites, pies, onion pies, smoked greens with eggs, salad with tsitsiravla (sprouts of wild pistachios in brine). the tsitsiravla is the classic meze for tsipouro, as they are particularly salty due to the brine.

The moonshine in Magnesia is served in small 25-ounce bottles (50 ml). Each bottle is accompanied by a different meze, That's why you will see a lot of 25 pieces on each table.

The traditional sweets are mainly sweets, like freak, apple, pear, cherry, chestnut, FIG, the grilled apples with honey, cinnamon or apple pie, the homemade liqueur etc..

Local food can be found below :

«Ο ΒΡΥΧΩΝΑΣ», tavern in the main square, stand out goat in the oil paste, braised, chickpea meatballs, tel. : 6972 26 5927.
" THE NEST", tavern, on the square, for grilled on the coals, spentzofai, boumbari, goat in the oven, wine rooster etc., tel. : 24280 96241, 6973 450896. The company also has rooms for rent.

DRYAD TASTE, at the hostel restaurant «Dryades», you will find sought after flavors, such as a handmade bougainvillea, veal with local chestnuts and plums, caramelized shank etc., tel. : 24280 96110.
«‘We came & we tied», coffee, drink, dessert and sale of local products such as herbs of Pelion, handmade gifts, books, pyrographies, tel. : 24280 96334.
«Lotus», tavern under the square, tel. : 24280 96243
«Triporto», restaurant in the main square, tel. : 6947 693030.
"The Distillate", tavern and grocery stores.
«Platania Orientalis», tavern in the central square of Agios Lavrentios, tel.: 24280 96379, 6975 609642, coffee and appetizers for tsipouro.
«Grocery M.. Red», Old traditional grocery store operated by 1924, tel. : 24280 96269. You will find local products, like cheese, olive oil, spoon sweets and jams (they make themselves), in syrup, buns, herbs of Pelion, legumes, groceries etc.. In the traditional grocery you will have the opportunity to see old scales, old objects and plaques of another era.

Oven Loire, Agios Lavrentios square, tel. : 24280 96035.

AGIOS LAVRENTIOS OF PELION - ACCOMMODATION

"Old Olive Mill», guest house, tel.: 24280 96481, 6984 621879, http://www.palioeleotrivio.gr. A restored olive mill 1820, next to the river, which was turned into a hostel.

Dryades Hotel Wellness Spa – Luxury Guesthouse, tel: 24280 96110, 24280 96224, 6937 050473, https://www.hoteldryades.gr, https://www.dryadeshotel.com. His old mansion 1860, fully renovated, coexists with a newly built building, with spa and restaurant.

«Centaur», hotel, tel.: 24280 96224, 24280 96246, 24280 96110, 6937050473, https://www.hotelkentavros.gr (same business as Dryades Hotel & Spa).

«ILIOPETRA» Luxury Suites, hotel 3*, with bar –bistrot, tel. : 24280 96406, 697340535, http://iliopetrasuites.gr Renovated buildings 1864 with elements of traditional Pelion architecture.
«Zarifi Mansion 1716», guest house, tel. : 24280 96002, 6947 693030 (K. Mary), 6944 874510 (Mr. Vaios). His old mansion 1716, also known as "Zarifis' house". Solid stone volume, small windows-loopholes, three-room with wooden roof (cantilever), is the only mansion of its specific typology 18^th century. remaining.

Mellio Mansion, hotel, 4*, tel. : 24280 96292, 6972 892921, https://www.archontikomellio.gr. It was the house of the actor Lavrenti Dianellos, that is, the house of Papa-Dianellos' family, which has now been converted by the Zopa family into a hotel.

Sarafis Guesthouse, tel. : 24280 96377, www.sarafis-rooms.gr.

Village House – Triantafyllou Guesthouse, tel. : 24280 96310, 6948623539 (K. Maria Triantafyllou), http://www.villagehouse.gr.

«The Nest», rooms and tavern, tel. : 24280 96241, 69734 50896.

«Koti Mansion», guest house -cafe, tel. : 24280 96102, http://www.archontikokoti.gr, open all year.

EVENTS - CUSTOMS - FESTIVALS

Cherry Festival, last Saturday of June. traditional festival, with music and treats such as fresh cherries and sweet cherry. You will have the opportunity to buy spoon sweets from the fruits of Pelion (information : Development Association of Agios Lavrentios Pelion)
«Music Village», August- early September, musical and artistic events
Open Village»It is a private initiative of the local bodies and the residents that provide, among other things, organized guided tours in the mansions of the settlement.

An initiative of the residents and local bodies for the promotion of the village. Various cultural events take place, guided tours of the old mansions, within the framework of the Architecture Festival, and sightseeing tours (information for tours etc.. in the http://www.openvillage.gr).

19-20 July, of Prophet Elias with a traditional festival with music in the main square.
10 August, of Agios Lavrentios, religious festival with the presence of the Metropolitan of Demitriados and Almyros.
15-16 August, of Agios Apostolos the Younger, religious festival, where usually the world, after church, goes for food in the taverns of the village.
Christmas, musical events in the Straton building (information : Agios Lavrentios Development Association).
Carnival, events organized by the Development Association of Agios Lavrentios

SAINT LAURENTIOS – ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES

Walks – horse tours or free riding. The walks take place in the village or in the nearby forest (duration 1/2 or 1 hours). There is also the possibility for short tours with the horses, to the villages Drakeia, Cervanates, Agios Vlasios, Agios Georgios Nileias etc.. Information : Pantelis G.. Σπίνας, tel. 6973 7 18928 (near the Monastery of Agios Lavrentios).

Hiking Agios Lavrentios - Drakeia Walking on a rural dirt road, in a beech forest, chestnut, trees, water (3,7 km, duration 50'-1 hour). Drakeia is a traditional settlement, built on the slope that is opposite Agios Lavrentios. It belongs to the list of "martyrdom villages" 1941-1944, as well as on 18-12-1943 here were executed 115 Greek fighters, hence the Memorial Monument in the main square. Access to Drakeia is from Agria which is just a stone's throw away 8 km from Chania and 10 km from the Pelion Ski Center, "Wild White".

Hiking Agios Lavrentios - Chania - Ski Center Hiking in an old signposted path (10 km, 5-6 hours). The settlement of Chania is located in 1.190 m. and the Pelion Ski Center "Agriolefkes", to 1.471 m.
Hiking Agios Lavrentios - Agios Vlasios, (about 5 Km, 1,5 time).
Hiking Agios Lavrentios - Wild (about 6,8 Km, 2,5 time). Pelion (top of Purian Cross, 1.624 m.) was according to mythology the summer residence of the gods of Olympus and the homeland of the Centaurs. Apart from "mountain of Centaurs" it is also called "mountain of cells", from the many monasteries and hermitages that existed in the past. Many villages bear the names of Saints, as they were created around the monasteries, mainly by the craftsmen who worked in them, like the : Saint Lawrence, Saint Vlasios, Saint George etc..

SAINT LAURENTIOS – ACCESS

THE Saint Lawrence belongs administratively to Municipality of Volos and you will find it approximately 20 Km A. from Volos heading to Wormwood. After Wormwood (9 Km) and before Kato Lechonia, at His bridge Βρύχωνα you will turn left towards Agios Lavrentios (11 km) on a road with asphalt and many turns. The old concrete Vrychonas Bridge It was built in 1917, for the needs of the railway line, and is a historical monument.