The Theofilos museum is among the greatest attractions in Pelion, located in the stone mansion “Chatzianastasi” known as Kontou residence, in Anakasia. It was built in 1835 and originally belonged to Chatzianastasi family. Giannis Kontos, a miller from Ano Volos, bought the mansion in 1905 from the family and adapted it to the neoclassical trends of the period with various construction works that altered the original look of the building. In its present form, it is a three floor stone mansion with wooden roof covered with slabs and Byzantine type tiles, kept in excellent condition.
In 1912 the popular painter Theofilos Chatzimihail benefited from the accommodation and security offered by Kontos, and begun decorating with paintings the hall and a big room with a “Γ” shape on the last floor. This date can be seen along with Theofilos signature in the painting featuring the great Greek revolution hero, Theodoros Kolokotronis located on the right of a narrow antenna in the hall and is believed to be the first mural.
In 1955, the earthquakes did extensive damage to the building. Therefore, in 1962 the ministry of culture, in order to protect it, it announced it as a “historical preserved monument” and bought in 1965 to repair it and operate it as a public space.
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The painting themes of these exceptional murals are divided into two zones, the upper and the lower. In the lower zone, that reaches up till the windows, you will have the chance to admire various decorative themes inspired by nature and the animal kingdom such as flowers, birds, animals and scenes from hunting while on the left of the stairway, next to the room’s door is the portrayal of Giannis Kontos riding his horse. In the upper zone that ends just below the celling you will see 14 large paintings inspired by the Greek revolution and for which Theofilos used as prototype, lithographs from painter Peter Von Hess. You can also see the four gods of Olympus and topography paintings of Makrinitsa and Portaria.
The completely painted decoration of the mansion is preserved in excellent condition, while the mansion is the only in Pelion that hosts a completely intact Theofilos painted work.
