Drakeia of Pelion, the martyr village with the oldest square of Pelion

Greece Thessaly 29 November 2020 Like

Drakeia is one traditional settlement built at an altitude 500 m. on a fertile slope above Wormwood. It was built by craftsmen from Epirus near 1655 and is considered one of the oldest villages of Pelion. OR Drakeia included in "martyrdom villages» 1941-1944, as well as in the village, at 18-12- 1943, were executed 115 Greek fighters from the Germans.

Primarily a rural village, with the majority of the inhabitants engaged in agricultural production. The fertile slope, in which it is built, it is full of olives, producing excellent olive oil, apple trees, φιρικιές (PDO), pears, chestnut.

KASTANODASOS IN DRAKIA WITH VIEW OF THE PAGASITIC BAY

DRAKIA - SIGHTS

The village has two squares, which you will find in the upper and lower districts.

OR Lower square with the old plane tree, is considered the older than Pelion.

LOWER SQUARE - CENTRAL

OR Lower square is the main square of the village, ideal for coffee or food, under the age-old plane tree. Here you will find the tavern «Old Square», on the square, the tavern Silky and coffee "Ligorema». Close to Lower square You will see Memorial Monument, Church Saint Nicola's, Church Agios Athanasios in Mount Athos (1770), the school, the old oven (1909), with bread in the woods and traditional grocery store, with local products.

Memorial Monument, close to Lower square (central)

Museum of Memory, Lower Square

It is housed in the old community store and includes historical audio documents, photos, digital illustration etc..

in Above square, with the plane trees and the nice view of the Pagasitic gulf you will sit in the cafe- tavern «Balcony with view».

Folklore Museum of Agriculture & Of Culture Heritage of Drakeia

You will see traditional costumes, woven, embroidery, rugs, old useful tools, the equipment of an old olive mill etc..

It is located in the area of the community store and the SK is open, while on weekdays by appointment (if you ask in the main square, in the tavern, will serve you).

Old Mansions (18^th – 19^th)

The 1955, after the catastrophic earthquake, the village suffered several disasters resulting in most of the old houses being demolished. The "is preserved in excellent condition"Triantafyllou Mansion», which today is a private residence. It has been characterized "work of art», as it is a classic example of Pelion architecture with many northern Helladic elements. Tower house with solid stone volume, elevated entrance, small windows and the classic sachnisia (balcony supported by beams).

In his parasite "Triantafyllou Mansion»The mural-landscape, with cities and villages of Greece (1832), is the leading work of the painter Ioannis Pagonis. The original mural can be found at Kitsos Makri Folklore Center, in Volos as well as the fresco of Athanasios Pagonis, from his paternal home in Drakeia.

The popular painter Ioannis Pagonis, from the Snowmen of Epirus, lived in Drakeia after his marriage to Drakeiotissa. Both he and his son Athanasios Pagonis, They painted a large part of mansions and churches of Pelion and mainly of Drakeia.

Olive mill – Flour mill I. Michou (1880) - Stone Arched Bridge

DRAKIA - FOOD

The traditional food of Pelion is boumbari (intestine filled with heart and lungs, ground beef, rice, etc.), goat boiled or in oil paste, spentzofai (local spicy sausage cut into slices and peppers), differences pies, eggs with smoked greens, salad with sprouts tsitsiravla (from wild peanuts). Tsitsiravla sprouts in brine are a classic tsipouromeze as they are quite salty.

In Drakeia you will find the following shops for food :

"Old Square", Lower square, barbecue - tavern with award-winning cuisine. You will find spit grills, Pelion cuisine, moonshine, wine. Ask to try the famous wild boar with plums, Brown, Pelion vegetable pie with local herbs and eggs with smoked herbs, tel. : 24280 96650

"Balcony with View", Upper square, cafe-tavern, tel. : 6980 335034. Tables on the square for coffee & tsipouro appetizers, overlooking the Pagasitikos. Ask for a traditional beetle, burgers, handmade cheese pie etc..

Silky, traditional tavern with award-winning cuisine, 30 m. from the Lower Square, tel. : 24280 96015. In summer it has tables on the square and in winter a fireplace. They stand out as a beetle, boiled goat, scales in the hull, tsipouro appetizers, local wine etc..
The Mulberries, coffee, moonshine, food, tel. : 24280 96018.
Ligorema, Lower square, coffee, drink, homemade desserts, tel. : 6973 305410. Nice space with old objects and wood stove. The owner collects the leaves and the fruit of the foam tree (shampoo) from the area and makes spoon dessert and homemade liqueur.
Traditional Grocery Koutsaridis, Lower square. You will find traditional products, legumes, noodles, honey, sweets, herbs of Pelion etc., tel. : 24280 96003.

The film of Greek cinema "To our teacher with love», was filmed 1968 (released the 1969) in Drakeia and includes scenes from the cobbled streets of the village, the school and the old grocery store.

Old oven from 1909, Lower square You will come for bread in the woods, cheese bread and bun that they make themselves.

Grocery - Gas Station Kapotos Irini, Lower square, tel. : 24283 00517. You will buy from here Extra Virgin Olive Oil and apples their own production but also bread, sweet, buns etc..

churches & FESTIVAL IN DRAKIA

In Drakeia there are totals 17 churches and chapels, many with frescoes by the popular painter Pagonis.

Inside the village there are the following churches :

church Saint Nicola's, in the Lower Square

church Saint Paraskevi (Metropolitan)
church Agios Athanasios in Mount Athos (1770)

At 5 July, in celebration of "Αθωνα», becomes a traditional festival in the Lower Square, with treats. In the evening the party continues in the Upper Square, with meze and tsipouro.

At 8 July, of Agios Prokopios There is a party in the Upper Square and in essence it is a continuation of the festival of Athos from 5 July.

Chapel of Agios Spyridon (1780) It is located on the west side of the village towards Portaria, in the district of Galata, that is, where the village was originally developed. The wood-carved iconostasis and the frescoes of Pagonis stand out.

At 11 August, in Remembrance of the Miracle of the Saint Spyridon, a festival (the church celebrates on and on 12 December). After the operation, chickpea rice is offered (because fasting), by the women of the village. Chickpea rice is cooked in a cauldron in the yard, very early, and according to custom the table is offered by a local, for blessing. Subsequently, in the churchyard, followed by a feast with traditional instruments, dance, Lenten delicacies and tsipouro.

Chapel of Agios Georgios, with a remarkable wood-carved iconostasis and frescoes by Ioannis Pagonis.
His chapel Holy Cross, Anemoutsa location, nice view.

Singles wooden temple, painted in bright colors.

At 14 September, in the his festival Cross fava beans are offered, halva, moonshine, wine, coffee etc.. In the past, the locals used to go on horses, but today there is a road.

DRAKIA – EVENTS

«Happy Halloween», Lower square, on the last Sunday of Carnival.

The carnival party in Drakeia includes a carousel in the square in the morning, flours and carnival toys for children. At noon follows a traditional feast, with drums and drums, dancing and treats like halva, green pies and mulled red wine flavored with cinnamon and orange. At the end of the day fires are lit and the end of the celebration follows with the burning of the Carnival King (information : Development-Cultural Association "I Drakeia").

Olive Festival, 4day events, 1^TheSK after 15 August.

OR Olive Festival includes an exhibition of olive products, Photo gallery, olive-themed activities for children, cooking lessons with well-known chef judges, such as Eleni Psychouli and Timoleon Diamantis, tsipouro appetizers and treats, (information : Development-Cultural Association "I Drakeia").

Three-day Memorial Events & "Memory and Sacrifice" Road Race, Wild-Drakeia, 10,5 km, at 15-18 December, (information Municipality of Volos and D.E.. Wild).

Twelfth Night – Customer of Singers An old custom where the men and the older boys of the village walk from house to house saying wishes. Each house offers money, treats, suitable for the church etc.. The purpose is charitable e.g.. the maintenance of a church. The Singers start early in the morning for the houses of the Drakeians in Agria and Volos. The evening, separated into 2 groups, visit for wishes the houses located in the two districts of the village, the top and the bottom.
May Day Feast, in the Lower Square. On May Day, the Lower Square of Drakeia is decorated with a large May Day wreath and prepares for the celebration.. At noon in the square under the plane tree, A feast is set up with Pelion zournades, νταούλια, lutes but also with live music and songs from the orchestra.

HIKING IN DRAKIA

Walk the cobbled streets to discover the beauties of the village, the old houses, the Byzantine churches and chapels, the fountains, the old olive mills, the stone bridges.

FAUCET (1912) WITH DRINKING WATER, LOWER SQUARE

Indicative routes :

Hiking around the village, following the path from the old Douka Olive Mill to Olive mill – Flour mill I.. Michou. Easy route through chestnut trees, apple trees, trees, beeches, waters and old stone bridges.

Hiking Drakeia – Hania – Pelion Ski Center "Agriolefkes", dirt path next to the ravine and in a chestnut forest, beeches, wild white (about 5,2 km, 2,5 hours).

Hiking Drakeia – Hania – Pelion Ski Center, through the asphalt road. The distance Drakeia-Chania is 8 km and the distance Chania – It is Agriolefkes Ski Center 2 km.

Hiking Drakeia – St. Spyridon- Salt stone – Chania or Portaria. Uphill path with signage and moderate difficulty. At Alikopetra there is a crossroads with signs to Chania and along the way you will find springs with drinking water.

Hiking Drakeia – Saint Lawrence, dirt road (3,7 km, 50’).

DRAKIA-ACCOMMODATION

In Drakeia the accommodation is few and you will find mainly houses.

Indicatively :

Filoxenia Drakia, vacation house, tel. : 23820 83077, 6947687078.

Filoxenia Drakia, Filoxenia Drakia. Filoxenia Drakia (Filoxenia Drakia).

They will offer you a basket with handmade traditional products and a tour of the beauties of the village.

Also in "Filoxenia" you will find to buy original handmade items for gifts.

Filoxenia Drakia driverstories Filoxenia DrakiaFiloxenia Drakia» : at 7 Filoxenia Drakia + 1 Filoxenia Drakia, Filoxenia Drakia 8 Filoxenia Drakia 7 (Filoxenia Drakia).

The cottage in Pelion, residence, tel. : 6946 503372.
Villa Euphoria – Villa Efrosini, tel. :6947 737247.

DRAKIA - ACCESS

OR Drakeia belongs to Municipal Unit of Agria, of Municipality of Volos. It is 17 km from Volos and 10 km from Agria through the District. Agrias-Drakeias Road.

THANKS

We thank the president of Anaptyxiakos & Cultural Association "I Drakeia" Mr.. Athanasia Lytra and Mrs.. Anastasia Lytra for the valuable information and photographic material provided to us.

We also thank Mrs. Eleni Koutsaridi and Vefa Tsalikidou, for their help.