Portaria is the first of the classic Pelion villages you encounter coming up from Volos — at 600 metres on the mountain's western flank, facing the Pagasitic Gulf. It earned the informal title "Queen of Pelion" from its commanding position and the quality of its traditional architecture: 18th and 19th-century mansions with the characteristic Pelion mix of carved stone, painted shutters, and wooden overhanging upper storeys.
The main square has good tavernas serving traditional Pelion food — tsipouro (a strong grape spirit), spetsofai (pork sausages with peppers), and bean soups. Every summer the village stages a re-enactment of a traditional Pelion wedding in the square, complete with period dress and live folk music. It draws visitors from across the region and is worth timing a visit around if you can.