Milies, Pelion in the 19th century

Milies played a leading role in the Pelion region during the Greek War of Independence in 1821. The renowned School of Milies, founded by Anthimos Gazis, Grigorios Konstantas, and Daniil Philippidis, became a significant intellectual hub of the era and a center of the revolutionary struggle. One of the key outcomes of the school's Enlightenment-inspired work was the establishment of the important Milies Library Psychis Akos ("Remedy of the Soul") between 1814 and 1817. Still in operation today, it houses rare books and historical relics. Gazis himself donated his personal library to the institution, which was also enriched with valuable educational material for the time, including scientific instruments, maps, and more. Another major development for the settlement of Milies in the late 19th century was the construction of the historic Volos–Milies railway. The contract for the project was signed in 1892 by the Minister of the Interior, G. N. Theotokis, and representatives of the Thessalian Railways Company. Initially, it included only the construction of the Volos–Lechonia line, which began on March 24, 1894. The 12 km route was inaugurated in October of the following year, by which time the company was under the direction of Italian engineer Evaristo de Chirico, father of the famous painter Giorgio de Chirico. Pictured: Panoramic view of the village of Milies in Pelion, where the Pelion train line terminated. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.