Zagora is the biggest village of Pelion and is located at a distance of 47km from Volos through Portaria or 83km through Milies, and at an altitude of 480m.

In late 8th. century, Slavic races occupy a large part of Thessaly. In those times, the name of Zagora is heard for the first time in the East side of Pelion, meaning in Slavic language "the area behind the mountain". Therefore, the Byzantine village that was located nearby took the name Zagora, and it constitutes the village of the same name of nowadays.

In the late Byzantine times, the Monastery life flourishes in Pelion. The frequent attacks of various conquerors  compel the rural population to choose the peaceful Monastery life, which was also free of taxes and oppression.

The first Monasteries are built in Pelion in the 10th. century. The first one is the Monastery of Metomorfosis Sotiros in Zagora. According to tradition, it is said that the big Byzantine Monastery was built in 1168. Later on, the Monastery of Rasova is built. From several signs in the churches of Zagora, it becomes known that there were eminent people who made significant donations in their homeland at those times.

From the mid 18th. century, a booming industrial activity brings a significant economic development in Zagora. The relations in production change and the closed economy gives its place to industry, trade and shipping. The work in looms continues night and day, in order to cover not only the domestic needs, but also those of the market.

The silk of Zagora is in great demand. Its export reaches Syria and Egypt. The significant number of mansion houses in the area indicate the financial development of the past. The inhabitants of Zagora begin to acquire also their own vessels. In this way, they transport their goods in the Aegean Sea, in Black Sea and in the Adriatic through the port of Chorefto, located in Zagora.

Zagora is consisted of four regions:

• Perachora or Agia Paraskevi
• Agia Kiriaki
• Agios Georgios
• Agia Sotira.

During the first decades of 1700, the church of Agia Kiriaki is built. Its carved iconostasis, being an exemplar of the woodcarving that flourished in Pelion, is a creation of the craftsman Komenakis form  Epirus, dated between 1742 – 1744. In 1803, the church of Agia Paraskevi is built in five months, on the ruins of an older church.

The development of shipping results in bringing, apart from money in the area, the democratic ideas circulated and the Greek books published in Europe. From the mid 18th. century, the intellectual renaissance begins in Pelion.

The contact with the European culture gave a new direction in the intellectual development of Zagora, and in general of the area of East Pelion. In those times, several schools were founded, some of which were of a national fame, such as the "Greek Musuem", a school founded by the Patriarch Kallinikos from Zagora.

This school is built in the dense chestnut forest, and today it is known as the "School of Rigas", for there studied the great hero of freedom Rigas Feraios Velestinlis. Students of this school were also: the ringleader of the national revolt, clergyman and scholar Anthimos Gazis, the clergyman and scholar Grigorios Konstantas, and other eminent Greek scholars.

Zagora is also the homeland of many intellectuals and benefactors, such as Alexandros Pantos, Dimitrios Kassavetis, Ioannis Kordatos and the poet Drosinis. From the old intellectual prosperity of Pelion, the library of Zagora survives until today, with more than 10.000 volumes and 150 handwritten codes.

The area where Zagora is located, is lush green with running waters, and therefore it is an ideal destination for vacations all over the year, as is also the case for the majority of Pelion’s villages. There are many and remarkable choices of accommodation as well as of taverns, restaurants with food of a very good quality. The ski resort at Chania is located at a distance of just 20km, but during the winter months you should be cautious regarding the slippery roads and the fog.

Nowadays, the production of apples and pears constitutes the main occupation of the inhabitants, apart from tourism and the flourished folk art of wooden works.

In early September, the local Women's Cooperative organize the "Festival of apples", which is a worth-visiting event. The agricultural cooperative is an exemplar one at a national level, trading 10,000,000.00 kilos of apples of excellent quality, the famous apples of Zagora.

The plants of the cooperative are of modern standards and contribute in the best way possible the process of the apples sorting and standardization. The business and export activities of the cooperative yield abundant foreign exchange.