About the village
Stagiates is a small village of Pelion that along with Portaria, Alli Meria and Katichori, form the municipality of Portaria. It is built on a rock from where one can enjoy the amazing views towards Volos and Pagasetic gulf, hidden in lush vegetation. The area is suitable for quite and relaxing holidays in nature and away from the crowds.
The origin of the villages name has four versions from different principals. The first version that is also adopted by the locals is that the name comes from Stagous in Kalampaka, from where craftsmen came and settled while building the monastery of Oksias Episkepseos in Makrinitsa on the 13th century.
The village saw major industrial development from 1750 till 1850, and was mainly known for two things : Its therapeutic springs and its delicious sausages both of which is famous until today.
The water quality of Stagiates is so famous, that many came from Volos to have water from the traditional fountain in the central square. This fountain has its own unique story. Tradition says that from these waters a sick woman was healed. It was built during the Ottoman period and on it, a sign was placed in which the Turkish husband writes about his wife's treatment.
The village, is also famous for the amazing sausages that it produces. From early times the region exported sausages in Greece and abroad, and here the first sausages “Strakas” were produced. The locals mastered the art of producing delightful sausages, something that makes them very proud until today. Wanting to preserve some of the old customs, the municipality organizes every year, at the end of July the sausage festival,in the central square. During the festival a demonstration on traditional sausage production takes place under the sounds of traditional music and songs along with dances.
Going on a walk through the village paths, you will discover old mansions and traditional houses representing traditional Pelion architecture while from the greenly central square you can enjoy the magnificent view towards Volos and the neighboring Makrinitsa. In the central square is the Agios Athanasios church, who is the patron saint of the village, also visit the other churches of the area, the stone built Agios Seraphim and the Monastery of Euaggelismos tis Theotokou (Immaculate Conception of Mary)
Finally worth visiting are the areas of Alonaki, Kria Vrisi and Platanakos which all have streams and fountains with abundant waters.
