Velestino, Magnisia, in the 19th century

During the Greek Revolution of 1821, a significant event was the attack by the revolutionaries of Pelion against the Ottomans of Velestino, and the assembly held in honor of Rigas, which took place in Velestino on May 11, 1821. This assembly was called the "Parliament of Thessalomagnisia," with Anthimos Gazis as president and Philippos Ioannou as secretary. However, Ottoman forces arrived from Larissa and destroyed Velestino. Following the decision of the diplomatic conference in Constantinople on May 24, 1881, Thessaly was incorporated into the Greek State. According to the first census conducted afterward, the population of Velestino was 856 people. The population grew rapidly, and by the 1889 census, it had risen to 2,389 inhabitants. The development of watermills in 1882 was also significant, as was the creation of the first factory in the country combining steam power and hydraulic energy to produce high-quality flour. During the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, Velestino was the site of the only victorious battles, but the war had devastating effects on the town's urban structure, especially in areas where military operations took place in April 1897, as well as on the flour mill and pasta factory. Pictured: Panoramic view of the small town of Velestinou Magnesia at the end of the 19th century. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’