Αρχοντικό Σισιλιάνου — Hotel in Volos Municipality

Where to start? First, Sisilianou is an archontiko, an old traditional mansion converted into a hotel - very serene and atmospheric. The place was run virtually single-handedly by the lovely and gregarious Anna, who was a very gracious host. No wifi, but Anna let me use the office PC and printer to research hiking trail info and maps for the Pelion Peninsula. Breakfast included locally-made pastries and pies, fruit preserves made by Anna's mother, and wild mountain tea made from plants collected on June Sundays by Anna's father. When the power company (on strike) shut the power off for an hour one evening, candles were lit and placed throughout the hotel, which just added to the atmosphere of a very lovely place.||I would be remiss if I didn't say a bit about Makrinitsa as well. It is aptly nicknamed the Balcony of the Pelion. It clings to a steep mountainside - the whole village laid out in a series of cobblestoned terraces and ramps. Foot traffic only, so it is very quiet. The real secret of the place? There is absolutely nothing to do there but chill out. Pick your spot to nibble, sip wine, write, enjoy the beautiful views of Volos and the Pagasitikos Gulf far below, or soak in the tranquility of the village square sheltered all day from the sun by four massive plane trees, none less than a century old. As I was leaving, I was bid adieu by Anna and gifted with a slice of cheese pie and a generous bag of those sweet seed cookies I enjoyed so much with the wild tea. Yes, my stay there was both delightful...

We stayed in Arhontiko Sisilianou for three nights in August. It is an old traditional greek mansion that has been renovated with taste and seems to have kept its original vibe. You can feel every detail has been thought of, and every corner welcomes you to sit and relax.||Our room was on the top floor, accessible by stairs, with a nice view on the mansion's garden. There is a common balcony accessible to all on that floor. We sat there to gaze at the village's main square. We also enjoyed sitting in the small balcony on your left handside when entering the garden on the main floor. It is Anna's usual spot (the owner's daughter) when she's not running around to help guests. It has a nice secluded feeling, and yet you're right at the center of the village. A bit like being on the best balcony at the opera. ||Breakfast was very good. It included hard boiled eggs, cheese, ham, handmade cheese pastries, handmade cookies, handmade cake and handmade marmelades made from their fruit. I drank tea Anna's father had hand-picked from the mountain. ||The guesthouse is located in the heart of Makrinitsa village. It is a pedestrian village (you can park at theentrance of the village) that is considered to be Pelion's rooftop, because of its nice views.||The location of the village is handy. We were based there to visit the mountain villages of the Pelion peninsula before heading on the other side to go to the beach...

We chose the Arhontiko only a few days before our arrival, during Easter time. The location was very convenient, right above the main square of picturesque Makrynitsa, even though cars are not allowed to reach that spot. The guesthouse is a beautifully restored old building, with traditional tasteful decoration. It felt like being a guest in a house, not because of the hospitality and the owners (who were quite polite) but due to the fact that the room was quite small, with an old traditional door that suited perfectly to the decoration but offered none privacy. The room's window looked above the gulf of Volos, but was really tiny. The sheets and towels were of good quality and the home-made breakfast was served in a beautiful traditional room with fireplace and a balcony. Guests should take into consideration that the only way to reach the rooms...