Guide to Afetes

'A very Greek village, uncommercialised and unpretentious, Afetes is an excellent base for day-trip discoveries.'

There's no difficulty pinpointing the heart of Afetes. The village plateia is as vast as many a self-respecting city square. Dappled with the shade of five plane trees, its huge expanse is bordered by a typically ornate church, the arch of a bridge and a taverna - which is the best seat in the house for people-watching in the evenings. To find this rural idyll, follow the coast road down from Volos and take a left turn eastward into the hills. From here you can go up, down or across the peninsula to a string of small towns and villages – adding atmosphere and character to local discovery. To the north is Tsangarada – where a plane tree about a thousand years old dominates Aghia Paraskevi square. Probably the biggest in Greece, it takes 18 people to encircle its trunk. Closer to home are the frescoed church and folk museum of Milies - the end of the line for the Pelion Trenaki steam train which runs – weekends - along multi-span viaducts, tunnels and bridges. Bustling Afissos is just down the road, with its harbour and sheltered beaches. And 12km from Afetes, Argalasti is the biggest town in the area – boasting a couple of bakeries, a variety of shops, and traditional tavernas on the town square. Happy hunting…

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