Zagora is a beautiful village located in NorthEastern Pelion mountain in mainland Greece. The mountain is well known as ‘The mountain of Centaurus’ from Greek mythology. Pelion mountain is famous not only historically, but also for its finest combination of both amazing seasides and wild forests, next to the Aegean sea and its islands. It is a unique destination, either you’re a sea lover or a mountain admirer, you can always find what you like within an hour.

Pelion has 24 villages and among them Zagora is the biggest, where you can visit the Greek school- museum of Rigas Feraios and Zagora’s Library. There are also remarkable architectural churches you can admire and several outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing, skiing etc., that you could plan, due to the village’s position. And because Zagora in Pelion is also a rural area, producing a big variety of fuits, especially apples, make sure that you’ll taste the marked with PDO Zagorin apples!

Up there in the foothill of Pelion mountain, Zagora village stands 450m from the Aegean's sea surface. A magnificent combination of mountai and sea, of blue waters, sky and green forest.

ZAGORA’S HISTORY

The history of Zagora is significant, especially during the period when Greece was under Turkish rule from the 15th to the 19th century. The name “Zagora” is believed to have originated from the Slavs, meaning ‘the back side of the mountain’. It was initially used to refer to the entire eastern part of Pelion, but gradually became associated with the present village of Zagora. Prior to the end of the 18th century, other villages in Pelion were also named as ‘Zagora’s villages’. In Paleokastro, near Zagora, remnants of a Byzantine castle, a possible Venetian tower, ancient swords, coins, and tombs have been discovered. These findings suggest the existence of an ancient town, referred to as Myres by N. Georgiadis as mentioned by Skyllas.

The village of Sotira, known for the monastery of Metamorphosis, has uncertain origins but is believed to have been inhabited since ancient times. It was home to farmers who worked the monastery’s land. The village gained independence from the monastery when a school was established in 1647. Additionally, the development of Zagora, another nearby village, began in 1668 and saw significant growth in the 18th century due to commercial and industrial activities, particularly silk-cloth production and the manufacturing of ‘skoutia’, a type of wool clothing. These products were well-regarded and led to the development of a strong shipping industry for exports.

The people of Zagora who went abroad and made a fortune brought back new ideas from the European Renaissance and Enlightenment periods. This prosperity is reflected in well-built mansions, new churches, and educational activity. One important historical monument in Zagora is ‘Ellinomoussio’ or Rigas’s school, where Rigas Ferreos, a famous Greek hero of the 18th century, first attended school. The school was initially established in the early 18th century, but as Zagora developed, a new school was built in 1777 with the support of Patriarch Kallinikos and the financial contribution of many inhabitants. Named ‘Ellinomoussio’, it became an institution of classical studies. Today, only part of the original building remains.

In ‘Ellinomoussio’, important scholars like Rigas, Gazis, Konstandas, and Phillipos Ioannou attended classes. Monk Zacharias, K. Triandafillidis, and K. Kassavetis were key tutors. The Library in Zagora, established in 1762 as part of ‘Ellinomoussio’, has rare publications from publishers like Aldos Manutios and Erasmus Schmidt. The village remains prosperous due to its Agricultural Association, with apple production being its mainstay. Zagora’s apples, known as ZAGORIN, are renowned worldwide. The tourism sector has not spoiled the village’s natural beauty, with Chorefto’s tranquil beach and Pouri’s scenic view being notable attractions.