Pinakates is one of the 24 villages of Pilion. According to one
interpretation, the name Pinakates comes from one of the first residents of the
village, who was called Pinakas; the name means ‘constructor of earthen or
wooden dishes’ which, in the local dialect of Pelion were called ‘pinakia’.
It’s important to mention that the village of Pinakates, along with that
of Makrinitsa and Vyzitsa, has been characterized as one of the most authentic
and traditional villages of Pilion. The reason why it has maintained this
particular character is the relative isolation of the village until recently. A
central road axis crosses the village and passes above the sunken square, while
all the other streets, pedestrian paths and, in days past, paths for equestrians,
form a paved network of walkabouts that runs through the village at the various
levels. The route along this network, reveals the stone houses, both mansions
and rural cottages, small courtyards with arbores, the flowerpots with the
flowers and the abundant natural springs. The green countryside that surrounds
the village is unspoilt and has remained unchanged for centuries: plane trees,
chestnuts and poplars form a dense forest, while fruit trees, mainly apple trees,
olive trees and vines complete the picturesque landscape.
As for the distances, Pinakates, with an altitude of 650m, is within a distance
of 25 km from the city of Volos, while in the neighbouring area, within 3
km lies Vyzitsa and Ai–Giorgis Nilias as well as the village of Milies (6 km).
Finally, within 15 km from Pinakates lie Kalamaki and Lampinou, the blue beaches
of the Aegean.