| Sakali Mansion | |
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Pinakates 385 00 Pelion |
find it on the map |
In the mountain villages of Pelion you have a wonderful selection of hotels and guesthouses – the choice is huge, catering to (almost) all tastes and budgets. If you value an impeccable blend of tradition, warmth, elegance and great comfort, you should stay at the stylishly restored 18th century Sakali Mansion. The mansion has eight individually styled bedrooms, all furnished with carefully selected antique and handmade pieces (and superbly comfy beds). There’s also a smaller paraspito (outbuilding), with a breakfast room and a sitting room, both very cosy, as well as a Hammam, a Jacuzzi with view, and, for the summer, an outdoor pool with a terrace looking out over the mountains and sea. The owners live and work near Athens, but spend all their free time in Pelion. The mansion is their passion, and it shows in every detail. Day-to-day care is in the experienced hands of kyria Praxithea, who fills the house with smiles and smells of freshly baked cakes.
What makes it special to me:
The Sakali mansion really scores on all fronts: architecture, style, decoration, comfort, location, breakfast, the welcome… Everything makes it special. My visit was in the winter; if I’d been here during the summer I’m sure I would have added the pool to my list.
But what you should keep in mind:
Not all rooms have far reaching views.
| Owner | Kriton and Anastasia Sakali |
| Address | Pinakates |
| 385 00 Pelion | |
| Tel. | 24320-86560-1 (hotel), 69.32.42.91.50 (mobile) |
| Fax | |
| info@sakalihotel.gr | |
| Website | http://www.sakalihotel.gr |
| Opening period: | All year |
| Children: | Not suitable for children under the age of 12. |
| Dogs: | Not allowed |
| Credit cards: | VISA, MASTERCARD |
| Accommodation | 7 double rooms (some with the possibility of an extra bed; all rooms are non smoking!) 1 suite for up to 4 persons |
| Prices: | Double room €150-220 per night (breakfast included) |
| Room facilities | En-suite bathroom (shower) |
| Other facilities | Breakfast room |
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An excellent homemade breakfast is served from 8h30 (summer) or 9h00 (winter). It includes traditional pita, cake, really good (and fattening!) loukoumades, yogurt, dried fruits, cerials, fresh orange juice, and more... For lunch and dinner you can just walk to the village taverna's - one is right next door - which offer simple fare. During the summer, you can order snacks and light meals (toasts, sandwiches and salads) by the pool. |
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Pinakates is a charming village built on the western slopes of the Pelion peninsula. It consists of beautiful old stone mansions, a church, a village square, two tavernas and one small shop. Sakali Mansion lies just below the road, but it is quiet. It has wonderful views over the mountains and the Pagasitikos Gulf. |
 find it on the map
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Follow the coastal road from Volos in the direction of Avria. Take a left in Ano Lehonia and follow signs for Agios Georgios. After Agios Georgios, continue to follow to road to Pinakates. You will see the guesthouse on your right just after you pass the church and village square. |
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Pelion is a destination for any season. Verdant and mountainous, and blessed with a beautiful coastline, the peninsula is wonderful for touring around and exploring, no matter what time of the year it is. It is great in the winter, when the mountains are covered in a thick and powdery layer of snow. It is great in spring, when the green is greener, the flowers are more fragrant and birds sing louder than anywhere else in Greece (or at least, so it seems…). It is great in the summer, when the mountains offer relief from the heat to those who don’t want to spend all their time on the many beautiful beaches. And it is great in the autumn, when the colours of the forested mountain slopes are the most intense, while the apple, walnut and chestnut trees shed their fruits.
Pelion is particularly famous for its perfectly preserved villages, marked by their tall mansions, the so-called arhondika, constructed during the commercial boom of the 18th and 19th centuries. These are typically three-stories high, their first two floors built out of stone, originally used as storage space and winter rooms, and a third floor for the summer, a larger construction with many large windows on three sides. Many have been converted into guesthouses, varying from plain and simple to stylish and luxurious.
You could drive around most of Pelion in one day, but if you have the chance you should take more time and split your stay between the west side, the east side and the mountains in the north, and explore as many villages as possible. You will enjoy strolling through cobbled lanes past old stone mansions, tiny churches and numerous water fountains, buying local products in tiny shops, and tasting traditional meals on village squares.
Starting with the north, you should go and see Makrinitsa and Portaria, two villages situated at an altitude of about 600 m, halfway between Volos and the ski centre of Mount Pelion. Easy to reach, blessed with a ravishing setting and magnificent architecture, and offering many different places to stay, they tend to attract a fair amount of visitors. Makrinitsa has sweeping views of Volos and the Pagasitikos Gulf. The main square is a great spot to stop for a meal.
About 12 km after Portaria is the village of Hania (another cute one) and a bit further on is the Agriolefkes ski resort. It is small (five lifts), but it is known for the good snow quality, and it is quite something to ski with a sea view! It also has a particularly attractive trail for cross-country skiing.
The eastern (Aegean) side of Pelion features the best beaches and beautiful scenery. Zagora in the north is the largest village; Horefto, set along a long sandy beach, is nice if you are interested in pure beach holidays; a bit further south Mouresi is quiet and charming; Damouchari, a tiny fishing port, is a good choice to stop for lunch.
Further south, you reach Tsangarada, a group of communities set amidst greenery and overlooking the sea. One of those, Agia Paraskevi is known for its magnificent 1000-year-old plane tree (with a perimeter of about 17 m!). Reputedly, it is the oldest and largest in Greece. The communities are linked by cobbled paths – so bring your walking shoes!
The main road continues down for another 15 km or so, until it bends towards the west taking you to the other side of the peninsula. You could leave the main road and drive further south to Argalasti and Lafkos. The area is not as impressive and mountainous as northern Pelion, but it is green and quiet and there are nice beaches and small seaside communities to explore. Otherwise, turn off the main road towards Milies, the first (or last) in a string of villages built along the south western slopes of Mount Pelion, overlooking the Pagasitikos Gulf. They are among the most authentic and picturesque villages of Pelion, and popular among Athens weekenders, especially during the autumn and the winter.
In Milies, you can visit the craft museum and the library, though most people come here to have lunch in the taverna at the old railway station. During the summer season, on Saturday and Sunday, you can take a ride on the old train on the narrow gauge railway line (it takes you past breathtaking scenery); if you come another time, go for a walk along the tracks. The road continues towards Vyzitsa, Pinikates and Agios Georgios, one even prettier than the other. Vyzitsa offers most choice in terms of accommodation and places to eat or drink, while the other two are perhaps a tad quieter on weekends. Go and see them all. |
Did you stay here?I'd love to hear how you liked it