A Greek mountain village suspended above the sea.

There is a side of Greece that most people never seek out. It isn't found on the beach. Instead, it clings to the slopes of Mount Pelion, 630 meters up, gazing straight down at the sea.

No cars are allowed in this village. You can only explore on foot—traversing cobblestone paths that wind past mansions two or three centuries old, featuring carved wooden balconies and walls adorned with murals by folk artists long since forgotten. Locals call it an "aristocratic village" because wealthy families once lived here—back when Pelion’s merchants and artisans amassed fortunes through trade and poured their riches directly into these homes. You can still sense that legacy as you walk through.

I arrived early; the air was already warm—around 26 or 27°C. Linden trees cast shade over the main square, where a marble fountain from 1809 stood quietly, and a few cats lounged nearby as if they owned the place.

The houses here are worth a fortune, though the ivy climbing their walls is none the wiser. Then, suddenly, between two buildings, the entire Pagasetic Gulf opens up beneath you, with Volos visible in the distance—it is known as the "balcony of Pelion," and it truly lives up to the name.