Mediterranean Princess Hotel_ Excursions and Sightseeing

PIERIA

INFO

The hotel is located between the towns of Paralia and Olympic Coast, while the city of Katerini is just 7 kilometers away.

Pieria, an incredibly rich historical region, boasts some of Greece’s most significant archaeological and Byzantine sites, traditional villages on the mythical Mount Olympus, and beautiful spots for hikers and nature lovers to explore. Major landmarks include the Byzantine Castle of Platamonas, the Archaeological Site of Dion, Litochoro, Skotina, and the city of Katerini.

From the mythical Mount Olympus and its traditional villages to the vast 70-kilometer coastline at Katerini Beach and Platamonas, the archaeological sites and monuments, tradition combined with nature is a sensory revelation for anyone interested in and planning to live this experience.

 

The itineraries vary depending on activities and preferences.

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia.

 

At its summit, on Mount Mytikas, lived the twelve Olympian gods of mythology. The gateway to Olympus, the town of Litochoro, a popular tourist destination, connects the mountain of the gods with coastal Pieria. Next to it lies the famous Enipeas Gorge, within which visitors can explore the Old Monastery of Saint Dionysius of Olympus, who lived as a hermit in a cave around 1542. The cave served as a refuge during the Revolution. Also near Litochoro is the large complex of the New Monastery of Dionysius.

Heading south, visitors come upon the impressive Byzantine Castle of Platamonas, overlooking the Aegean Sea, with its 20-meter-high octagonal tower. It is one of the most impressive castles of strategic importance from the Byzantine era due to its geographical location, serving as a passage between Thessaly and Macedonia. Its name dates back to 1198. It was part of the Despotate of Epirus and served as a Frankish prison during the reign of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. Both the Turks and the Venetians vied for control of it in the following centuries due to its strategic location. Successive rulers of the region continued to claim it, maintain it, and fortify it, but in the pre-revolutionary years it was abandoned by the Ottomans. In 1941, the Germans bombed the castle during battles with New Zealand forces.

 

The village of Palaios Panteleimonas—built at an elevation of 450 meters on the slopes of Lower Olympus, 6 kilometers from Platamonas—consists of houses built in the Macedonian architectural style using stone and wood from Olympus. In 1986, it was designated a Traditional Settlement.

Today, its narrow streets, lined with taverns, cafes, and small shops selling local products and souvenirs, along with the beautiful square featuring plane trees and the church of Agios Panteleimon, make it a lively, pleasant, and popular destination for every taste. To the north of the village, there are trails for hiking or mountain biking.

To the north, just before the town of Katerini, lies the archaeological site of Dion, one of the largest and most sacred ancient cities in Greece. At the sanctuary of Zeus, King Archelaus of Macedonia established the start of the games. And Alexander the Great himself performed a sacrifice at the sanctuary, in honor of Zeus and the Muses, before setting out on his campaign to Asia. After the dissolution of the Macedonian kingdom, it was besieged by the Romans, who established one of their first colonies there. The city also played an important role during the Byzantine era, especially during the reign of Justinian. The successive excavations that began in 1928 brought to light the fortified city with its ancient sanctuaries, Hellenistic and Roman theaters, paved streets, thermal baths with pools, a music school, Roman houses, villas, and early Christian basilicas.

The Roman temple of Zeus the Most High was unearthed in 2006. Inside this magnificent structure, featuring colonnades and exquisite decoration, a nearly intact full-length statue of Zeus was found, flanked by marble eagles. Nearby, on the other side of the Vafyra River, stands the sanctuary of the Eastern goddess Isis Lochia, with the smaller sanctuary of Aphrodite Hypolympidia to the north of the main sanctuary. Very close by is the twin sanctuary of Demeter, a temple believed to have remained in use until the 4th century AD.

The city’s main thoroughfare, running north to south, is clearly visible. It reflects the city’s urban layout, with perpendicular streets forming the building blocks within which stood walls, odae, an aqueduct, public baths, villas, houses, as well as the magnificent Villa of Dionysus, which dates to around 200 AD.

In its central section was the banquet hall. Its floor was covered with a highly artistic mosaic depicting scenes from the Dionysian cycle, which is now on display at the Museum of Dion.

In the small museum of Dion, in addition to the famous mosaic floor from the Villa of Dionysus, important finds from the sanctuaries of Zeus the Most High, Isis, and Demeter, as well as remarkable collections of sculptures from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, such as statues, reliefs, funerary stelae, and architectural fragments, and a rare exhibit, the hydraulis (or hydraulos), a wind-powered hydraulic musical instrument dating to the 1st century AD and played by two people.

But Elatochori is a wonderful place to explore. Built at an altitude of 1,000 meters, amidst firs, beeches, oaks, chestnut trees, and pines, it is today a very beautiful, traditional village with taverns, café-bars, and shops.

The Elatochori Ski Center is located 8 kilometers away. At an altitude of 1,450 meters, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Olympus and have the opportunity to ski on eight slopes, as well as use the snowboard and toboggan run.

Nearby is the Erato's Botanical Trail, which leads to a waterfall, as well as the Ai-Neri Gorge, offering stunning views of the water.

 

The city of Katerini itself has a beautiful park covering an area of about 52 acres, filled with fountains, walking paths, and play areas. Another picturesque spot in the city is the central Eleftherias Square, with the surrounding narrow streets forming the city’s bustling commercial center, full of activity and life.

 

Very close to Katerini, at the lower foothills of Mount Olympus, lies Palaia (or Ano) Skotina, built at an altitude of about 650 m. Until World War II, the settlement prospered thanks to silk processing, but it was abandoned in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, some of the beautiful houses featuring Macedonian architecture have been restored, and the settlement has been revitalized and is experiencing tourism development. Notable landmarks include the three-aisled basilica of Saint Athanasius, an outstanding example of traditional Macedonian architecture featuring 16th-century frescoes, as well as the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, which dates back to 1862.

Near Skotina, it is worth taking a walk to Leivithra, the birthplace of Orpheus, and to the Agia Kori Waterfall in ancient Pydna, the Episcopal Complex of Louloudia, and the Macedonian Tumulus dating back to the 4th century BC.

 

Pieria offers opportunities for unique recreational activities on the world-famous sandy beaches of the Thermaic Gulf, such as Katerini Beach (Olympic Beach) and the beaches of Platamonas and Nea Pora.

 

And in nearby villages such as Vria, Palaios Panteleimonas, and Ritini, visitors enjoy and admire the combination of pristine, beautiful nature with the refined elegance of traditional Macedonian architecture, local traditions, and the recreational and sightseeing activities that enhance the beauty of the entire Pieria region.

 

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