Mount Olympus, Pieria
Olympus Riviera, Pieria: Land of famous Olympus, of the 12 gods of Greek mythology, of the Pieria mountains of the 9 Muses, of Dion, Pydna, of the Byzantine Castle of Platamonas, of archaeological sites and Byzantine monuments, of traditional villages, of traditional tastes and pleasures, of water landscapes and 70 km of wonderful coastline. Ideal choice for alternative tourism.
Litochoro, Pieria, courtesy of Marketing Greece
Traditional villages: The traditional villages which are dotted across Mount Olympus (Paleos Panteleimonas, well known for its architecture, Palei Pori with stone houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and Palea Skotina) and Skotina (Morna) at the Pieria Mountains, even also Petra, Palea Vrondou, Palea Leptokarya, Litochoro, Dion, Ano and Kato Milia, Paleo Elatohori and Kolindros are famed for their excellent cuisine and comfortable accommodation. You will be rewarded with the exceptional natural landscape. Surrounded as they are by impressive forests, they stand out for their interesting Macedonia architecture, where stone is the main building material and have managed to keep alive aspects of traditional life.
Platamon Byzantine Castle, Pieria
History: Dion, the "city of Zeus", the sacred city of the ancient Macedonians, where Alexander the Great used to thank the gods of Olympus, with sacrifices to Zeus. At the Archaeological Park the visitors can admire the Greek theatre built during the 4th century, the sanctuary dedicated to Isis, the sanctuary of Zeus, the Dionysus Villa with its breath-taking mosaics, the Roman public baths, the sanctuary of Demeter, the monument of the shields and visit the nearby Archaeological museum.
The Prehistoric settlement at Makrygialos, dating back to 5.000 BC, ancient and Byzantine Pydna, the Louloudies site, where a fortified post-Byzantine settlement has been uncovered including a Palaeo-Christian basilica dating from the 6th century, an Episcopal palace, tombs and workshops, ancient Livithra where Orpheus founded a ritual site of the Orphean Mysteries and taught the worship of Dionysus, await for a pilgrimage to antiquity.
Platamonas Beach, Olympic Riviera, Pieria
Sea sports: 16 organized beaches each with its own different character stretch out in succession along a distance of 70 kilometers allowing you, the visitor, to enjoy all the benefits from different yet neighboring locations while ensuring a large gamut of choices: swimming, windsurfing, water skiing, jet skiing, pedaloes, canoeing, yachting and scuba diving with the assistance of experienced divers.
Hiking in Mount Olympus, Pieria
Olympus and the Pieria Mountains: Traveling along quiet forest roads, along isolated paths, where only the sound of nature can be heard, lovers of adventure can engage in mountain biking, horse riding and rock climbing.
For mountaineers Olympus is an ideal location. Mountaineering Associations have carefully organized routes (European mountain path E4 etc) and special, hospitable refuges on Olympus and Pieria Mountains. The roads and paths crossing the mountain nonetheless allow visitors to become acquainted with the mountains, the diverse flora and fauna and the natural beauty up close. Also one can enjoy para-gliding and hang-gliding.
Elatochori Ski Center, Pieria, courtesy of elatohori-ski.gr
Ski Center: At Elatohori, Pieria Mountains, there is an organized ski center with a central piste of 2.300 meters, a peripheral piste 4.800 m long and a beginner’s one 250m long and a warm chalet. Palio Elatochori has recently seen a rise in its popularity as a mountain destination. Offering hospitable accommodation in excellent facilities and authentic traditional tastes, the village also serves as a base for excursions in the mountains.
Fauna, River Aliakmonas Delta, Pieria
Coastal wetlands: The River Aliakmonas Delta with 215 species of bird, 33 fish species and more than 500 plant species, Alikes Kitrous, with pink flamingos (Phoenicopterus rubber) and Nei Pori wetland, with 600 plant species. The picturesque landscape and the extraordinary colors of the magical combination of water and rare plants will enchant all visitors.