Vizitsa

Can you think of a village with an operating nunnery just a few meters away from its main square? And do you know of a mountain where secular and religious elements coexist closely? There is only one answer to both of these questions: Vizitsa on Mount Pelion.

Recently, the old monastery of Saint John the Baptist at Vizitsa has started operating again as a nunnery. With two nuns first and now with just one, the nunnery keeps its doors open to those who want to visit. In its beautiful courtyard you will find people praying and meditating, enjoying a glass of cold water, and savoring -what else?- the traditional loukoumaki that sister Markella offers to the visitors.

In general, the presence of women in the village is strong. The Women’s Agritourism Cooperative “Esperides” is active and well known to the friends of Pelion. Those that have been initiated to their delicacies make sure to include Vizitsa in their itinerary, if not for anything else, just to make a stop at the women’s store. Marmalades, pickled tsitsiravla, trahanas, spoon sweets (especially the local firiki) are only some of the things you can buy. But if you prefer to learn how to make all these goodies yourself, then you can arrange an appointment and the local women will gladly teach you the art of Pelion cuisine and its flavors. The warm hospitality and the level of professionalism will surprise you.

Perhaps until now you knew Vizitsa as the open-air museum of Pelion. Indeed, the Pelion mansions here are spectacular and even more impressive is their interior decoration, with wood carved ceilings, wall paintings, and woven textiles. But if you add to splendid architecture, the deli store of the local women and the nunnery in the center of the village, you have more reasons than you need to visit to Vizitsa again and again.