Thessaly
Thessaly (Θεσσαλία) is a region in central Greece graced with fertile plains, river-fed valleys, and the tallest mountain of Greece, the mythic Mount Olympus. The birthplace of the Muses, Chiron the Centaur, and the healing god Asclepius, the region is also known for its stunning rock formations at Meteora and countless hiking trails rich with medicinal herbs.
Thessaly is bordered to the west by the land region of Epirus, to the north by Macedonia, to the south by Sterea Ellada, and to the east by the Aegean sea.
Sacred Mountains & Fertile Valleys
Thessaly is home to some of the most famous and mythological mountains of the Greek landscape.
In the northeast towers Mount Olympos (Όλυμπος)—ancient home for twelve of the Greek gods and Greece’s highest mountain peek at 2,917 meters (9,570 feet). It is also the region said to be the birthplace of the Muses and where the bard Orpheus was buried. Read more about Mt Olympus here and learn of its sacred connection to the Muses here.
Just south of Olympus is Mount Ossa (Όσσα), also called Mount Kissavos (Κίσσαβος). A slightly more humble mountain standing at 1,978 metres (6,490 ft), it’s said by Homer that the two ancient giants, the Aloadae, tried to stack the mountain atop Mt Olympus in an attempt to reach the gods.
The Tempi Valley (also called the Vale of Tempe, Κοιλάδα των Τεμπών) is a stunning, narrow gorge between Mount Ossa and Mount Olympus, through which the River Pineios flows. The valley is said to be where Apollo first spotted the nymph, Daphne, after being struck with Eros’ arrow; learn more of their myth here.
Following south is the peninsula of Mount Pelion (Πήλιο), known for its lush forests and mountainsides dotted with traditional villages. Abundant with medicinal herbs, Pelion is the mythic home of the Centaur Chiron, the ancient herbalist and mentor of the healing god Asclepius. The Pagasetic Gulf, formed by the Pelio peninsula, is a natural harbor for the city of Volos and the gateway port for reaching the Sporades islands.
West of the mountains of Olympus, Ossa, and Pelio is the fertile Thessalian Plain. Fed by the mighty Pineios River, the plain produces a crucial portion of Greece’s agriculture (primarily wheat, cotton, barley, lentils, and beans) and is thus known as the “breadbasket” of Greece.
In the northwest of the Thessalian Plain is Meteora, a stunning region of sandstone rock formations that host a collection of monastic communities for the Orthodox church and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since the 1980s.
Other notable features of the region are Mount Koziakas, Lake Plastiras, Theopetra Cave, and the River Lithaios (not to be confused with the River Lethe, the Underworld River of Forgetting).
The region of Trikala is also said to be the birthplace of Asclepius and the Asclepius Path of the Kefalopotamos River on Mount Koziakas is rich with medicinal herbs.
Click the play button to interact with the map
