Milies
The traditional mountain village of Milies is located at an altitude of 400 m, and only 28 km from the town of Volos. The village has a rich history and tradition. Miles is dominated by the old construction typical of Pelion, with old stone houses with stone roofs. At every step you will be greeted by fountains with cold, spring water, stone paths, stone steps… There are also a lot of collapsed, demolished and neglected houses.
Milies is the birthplace of Atymos Gorzis and Gregory Koustanus, two men who had an exceptional place in Greek history. Together they founded the school “Yihis Akos” in 1814. On the main square is the church of Panmegiston Taxiarchon from 1741. Atymos Gorzis led the revolution against the Turks in May 1821 at that place.
In 1943, the Germans shot 33 inhabitants and burned the entire village. In 1955, Milies was destroyed by a terrible earthquake. In 1982, the Local Museum was founded in the village, and since 1987, the village has been full of life. Many distinguished scientists of Greece came from Milies: Anthimos Gazis, Grigorios Knostantas, Daniel Fillipidies and others. The inscription on the school library “Psychis Akos” means medicine of the soul. All the old books in the library are from the three mentioned scientists. The oldest book in the library is from 1497.
In Milies there is hotel accommodation, there are traditional taverns, souvenir shops, and if you are looking for a more lively atmosphere, visit the nearest village of Cala Nera on the coast, which is a tourist place with lots of beach cafes, restaurants, taverns, bars, etc. The nearest and most beautiful beach is about 8 km from Miles, Koropi – which is the largest sandy beach on the west coast.
The main attraction and why everyone comes to Milies is the “Pillion Train”. The Italian engineer Giorgio de Chirico designed this project in 1895, which is one of the most difficult railway lines, with the help of only the local population. The train is powered by a steam engine and is called the Moutzouris Smudgy. In 1903, the train was connected by rail to Volos, where Milies became the commercial center of Pelion. The original length of the railway was 29 km, and today only 16 km is in use. The train runs on the line Ana Lehonia – Milies. During the season, it operates every day from 10 a.m., and during other months only on weekends at 11 a.m. In this unique train, you will have the opportunity to ride through a large number of tunnels, beautiful arched bridges, and enjoy a beautiful view of Pagasitic Bay and the surrounding area.
The width of the tracks is only 60 cm, so the railway is considered one of the narrowest in the world. The train travels at a speed of only 20 km per hour, covering a distance of 16 km with a total journey time of 90 minutes.
Departure is at 10 a.m. from Ano Lehonia and at 3 p.m. from Milies. In both directions there is a station in Ano Gatzea. The price of a return ticket for adults is 18 EUR, and for children (4-12 years) is 10 EUR. The price of a one-way ticket is 10 EUR for adults and 6 EUR for children. Prices are variable, and usually not less 🙂 .
