A few hours on the ferry from Alonnisos (via Skopelos and both Ports in Skiassos) on the mainland sits Volos. A coastal city with a large Port and a great harbour where the locals gather and dine on an evening. If I’m honest, I’d never heard of the Greek city Volos but it is the 3rd largest city on the mainland (around 200 miles north of Athens). In 1954 an earthquake hit an area of Volos which cause catastrophic damage, a large proportion of modern buildings were erected following this. There are still tremors felt here from time to time.

Volos is a relatively new city, beginning its growth in the mid-19th century. The locality of its castle was previously known as Golos by Ottomans and locals.

Volos used to have plenty of old mansions, the majority of which was destroyed after the earthquakes in 1955. Nowadays, only some of them have been saved, restored and have a new, mainly public, use.

Staying on the mainland I am now going to board a train for my 2 and a half hour journey to Thessaloniki. My last stop!!