 Pyli
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Pyli is a beautiful, picturesque town located 18 km from Trikala. It is built at the foothills of the Pindus Mountains, specifically in the passage between Thessaly and Epirus. The town lies very close to the scenic villages of Aspropotamos and the neighboring Arta.
The area is distinguished by its natural beauty. Two opposing mountains, Koziakas and Itanos, separated by the Portaikos River, form a majestic natural gateway, from which the town is said to have derived its name. In the past, it was known as Porta and Porta-Pazar.
Due to its strategic location, Pyli has historically been contested by many conquerors, and its lands have repeatedly been battlegrounds. The village endured numerous plunders and destructions, the last of which occurred in June 1943 when the Italians burned it. The settlement spreads across the fertile plain of Trikala and is characterized by beautifully built houses with well-kept courtyards.
Exploring the village is particularly interesting due to the Byzantine and post-Byzantine monuments preserved in the area. Among them stands the Church of Porta Panagia, located in the settlement of Porta Panagia. This is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Thessaly, separated from Pyli by the Portaikos River, a tributary of the Pineios. The church dates back to 1283 and is believed to have been built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Athena or Apollo. It is notable for two highly valuable icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Porta-Panagia is the birthplace of Saint Vissarion the Miracle Worker, the patron saint of Pyli, Kalambaka, and Trikala. Just a few kilometers from Pyli, visitors can reach the Dusikos Monastery, founded by Saint Vissarion, which flourished over the centuries. The monastery also hosted the first partisan units of the Greek Resistance active in Thessaly and once safeguarded the famous manuscript Gospel signed by Constantine Porphyrogenitus, which after several adventures and thefts, is now preserved in the museum of the Varlaam Monastery of Meteora.
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