Neochori, Magnesia

Neochori (Greek, Modern: Νεοχώρι, Katharevousa: -on) seat of the municipality Afetes, is a village situated on the peninsula of Pilion, and belongs to the prefecture of Magnesia, which itself forms the eastern part of Thessaly. The village is hidden in the embrace of a vast pine forest 480 meters above sea level, and about 35 km southeast of the prefecture's capital, Volos.

Subdivisions

 * Agios Dimitrios
 * Afyssos
 * Zervochia or Zervohia
 * Megali Vryssi
 * Plaka

About the village
The villages of Agios Dimitrios, Plaka, and Klossou at the Aegean Sea side belong to Neohori, as well as the villages on the Pagasitikos Gulf, like the popular tourist centre Afissos (ancient port of Neohori), and the settlement of Zervohia.

A beautiful village square is situated in the centre of Neochori, adorned by the centuries old plane trees and a roofed fountain dating from 1807. There are two tavernas and also a small kafenion. The Agios Dimitrios church below the square was constructed in 1768 and is truly remarkable. Externally, the church looks pretty simple, but the inside impresses with its wooden carved icon screen and the wall paintings by the Epirote painter Pagonis.

Neochori is famous for the slate of its quarries. Furthermore honey, apples and olives are typical products of Neochori and its vicinity.

Geography
The Pelio mountains dominate the area, the valley covers the central part, and farmlands are within the village and it produces fruits, olives and vegetables. The Pagasetic Gulf dominates the western part.

History
Neochori is, like the name says, a "new" village, (neo chori = new place). In former times, the region was settled completely from the Aegean side up to the Pagasitikos Gulf. Neohori however was built in the Middle Ages by inhabitants of the surrounding settlements as well as by settlers from the Aegean side and from the north of Greece.

The history of the region around Neohori is very long. It started in the ancient world; we know about the myths of Afetai, the myths of the kingdom of Lai and reports talking about Minoan settlements, as well as settlers at Agios Dimitrios (Neohori) and Cape Klossou, which is named in many old maps as "Knossou". The historians Strabo and Herodotus wrote reports about Afetai.

The population had suffered an enormous loss due to an emigrating and an aging population but it recovered only by 45 inhabitants added to the census.