This island is also known as Pelagonisi, and according to many historians it used to be the ancient Alonissos. Kira Panagia is mostly rocky but certain parts of it are quite verdant. Besides an extended pine-forest, the island boasts several wild olive trees, arbutus bushes, maple trees, heather and holly. Kira Panagia presents great archeological interest as well, featuring some ancient settlements, the natural harbors of Agios Petros and Planitis bay and the remains of a fortified city. Excavations in Agios Petros unearthed some Neolithic settlements directly associated with similar findings in the Kiklopas cave in Gioura and some Neolithic villages discovered in the Thessalian inland. It has been estimated that these islands were colonized by Thessalian peoples during the Paleolithic Age (around 9000-8000 B. C.), when the sea level was about 70-100 m. lower and vast stretches of land now underwater used to be dry.

Planitis bay is considered to be one of the safest harbors in the Aegean Sea. It’s not really a bay, it’s just a lake connected to the sea via a barely visible channel. It’s quite possible that the name of the bay stems from the verb plano (Greek for deceive) because it deceives people into thinking it’s a bay when it’s really a lake. During the Middle Ages Planitis used to be a buccaneer hide-out, perfect for stashing their loot. Kira Panagia, Gioura and Piperi were still frequented by pirates even after the area was liberated, that’s why many books mention them as Kleptofolies (Thief’s Nests) or Demononisia (Devil’s Islands).

The archeological interest of Kira Panagia is not exclusive to the inland. There have been two shipwrecks discovered and explored, one dating back to the Classical Era apparently carrying a load of wine amphorae, and one from the Byzantine period (12th century) full of decorative plates, some of which are now adorning several local households. The rest of them are exhibited in the archaeological museum of Volos.
It is forbidden to go fishing or diving anywhere near this area and you can only spend one night on the island, as long as you stay on your boat.

Dont forget to visit:

• The Monastery of Panagia (Virgin Mary) on the small island of Kira Panagia, a monastery dependency of the Moni (Monastery) of Megisti Lavra on Mount Athos. It’s a 16th century post-byzantine monastery built on the eastern side of the island in honor of Virgin Mary’s birth. It was restored a few years ago and it has become very popular with tourists. Its old olive press is also worth a look and if you happen to be there in August stick around for the monastery’s festival on the 15th.