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On the north side of this piece of Pelion lies the island of Palaio Trikeri (= old Trikeri) inhabited by about 40 to 80 people, depending on the season (more during the summer than the winter). A very long time the island was the domain of fishermen and a Byzantine monastery. After 1947 during the Greek Civil War time Palaio Trikeri served as a concentration camp for female anti-facist political prisoners. The number of prisoners ran up to 4,700 people in September 1949 when also other political prisoners were transported to the island.
In the meanwhile peace and quiet has returned Palaio Trikeri. There are no cars on the island and the only means of transport are donkeys. There are a few streets, but no roads and most of the infrastructure consists of hiking trails. In the port of the island are two tavernas and a small shop. There is also a small not really attractive pebble beach near the port. The attraction of Palaio Trikeri is the Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary.
In the 11th century the island Palaio Trikeri was abandoned because of the fear of pirate attacks. The inhabitants moved to the mainland and the island remained abandoned until the 18th century when a monk decided to go and live there. The Virgin Mary appeared three times to him and told him three times to dig in the ruins to find her lost icon (connoisseurs know that in this way a lot of sacred icons were dug out of Greek soil). The monk found the icon, which glowed and had a very nice smell. In three years time he built a church next to the ruins of the old one, so he could house the icon there. The construction of the monastery began in 1827. The Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is a fifteen minute walk from the harbor and it is quite large.
The island Trikeri is not really big, about 4.5 kilometers m2, and in about 30 minutes you can go from one side to the other side on foot. There are about a total of 7 small pebble and mixed sand / pebble beaches to be found. Although the island is served by small fast ferries, generally it still remains very quiet.
For all hotels, apartments, studios and villas in Trikeri and Agia Kyriaki - click here.
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