General Information on Pieria
Katerini is a beautiful town situated at the foot of Mount Olympus, facing the Aegean. It is the capital of the Pieria Prefecture and has its own distinct character. A few years back, its high street was repaved with brick and pedestrianised. Today, this road is full of shops and cafes and gets very busy all day long. Katerini has grown dramatically in all aspects, in the last decade. The city is also famous for its tasty dried nuts, a long established industry. Katerini represents a combination of material and spiritual ideals. That is, it provides history, natural beauty, and a great holiday resort.
History of Pieria
Pieria is the land of the nine Muses and the Olympian Gods. The Prefecture is situated among Olympus, the Mountains of Pieria and the coasts of Thermaikos Gulf. During historical years, in about 700 B.C., when the Macedonians conquered Pieria, they forced some Pierian Thracians to move to the north, while those who remained gradually mingled with Macedonians.
The most crucial battle in antiquity between Greeks and Romans, leading to the defeat of the Macedonians and the occupation of the region by the Romans, took place here. The battle occurred on 22 June 168 B.C. between the Rivers Aison and Leukos, at the city of Dion. The Romans, in order to acquire prestige, converted Pieria into a Roman province, nominating Pella –the once capital of the almighty Macedonian State– as its capital. Being under status-quo of the “Pax Romana”, the Pierian cities would no longer be exposed to external dangers and were not threatened by practically anyone; as a result, the area thrived.
The passage of Christianity through Pieria was an event of historical value. Apostle Paul visited Methoni in 50-51 A.D., on his way to Athens, preaching the new religion to Pierians. During the first Christian ages, the region experienced a significant development despite its geographical position.
The area later fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, along with the rest of Macedonia. During the Turkish occupation, Pieria was a separate administrative region, and the small village of Katerini began to develop, later becoming capital of the province. Nevertheless, the severe oppression of the population by their conquerors made the inhabitants rebel during the early 16th century. Pieria was freed along with the rest of Macedonia in 1912.
Towns & Villages in Pieria
Methoni: This is a coastal seasonal centre with 1,000 residents situated 31km north of Katerini. Hotels, rooms to rent and an organized campsite are available to visitors. Also, one of the most important wetlands in Europe is adjacent to the Aliakmonas Delta. There is an information centre in Nea Agathoupoli, where visitors can learn about the wetlands of Aliakmonas and the rest of the Delta, as well as the wetlands of Alikes and Kitros.
Agios Dimitrios: This small village is situated in the plateau between Olympus and Pieria. A short distance away, a cemetery dating to the late Copper era (14th – 12th century B.C.) was found, in the place Spathes. In the region, visitors can explore the impressive canyon of Olympus and the Straits of Petras.
Kolindros: It is a historical town in northern Pieria at an altitude of 350m. The city lies at a panoramic place, next to the highway. In this region, the revolution of Kolindros occurred in 1878, led by Bishop N. Lousi. Also, here is the ancestral home of Zorbas the Greek.
Elatohori – Milia: Elatohori is one of the most beautiful mountainous destinations, with direct access to the large urban centres. Visitors here can enjoy various sights, combined with winter sports at the Ski Centre of Elatohori. Made of local stone and timber, the traditional settlement Old Elatohori towers at an altitude of 850m over the Gulfs of Katerini and Thermaikos, all the way to the coasts of Chalkidiki.
Litohoro and Leptokaria: these two settlements are a must during summer. Litohoro, in particular, is a beautiful village that is often referred to as the gateway to Mount Olympus and offers various activities, ranging from mountain climbing to clubbing till morning. At Leptokaria, there is an excellent tourist infrastructure, with many hotels, rooms to rent, restaurants, taverns and cafes. Leptokaria is situated 25km from Katerini, with easy access from the National Motorway E75 and the railway.
Platamonas: Platamonas is a well-known seasonal centre with lots of crystal-clear waters, organized and isolated beaches, traditional elements and nightlife for all tastes. In the beach, there is an enormous, well organized, sandy beach. While here, don’t miss the traditional settlement of Old Panteleimonas on the mountain, offering a magical view. During summer, visitors may find a great number of hotels and rooms to rent for every budget, as well as restaurants, taverns, snack bars, cafes and clubs. The village of Platamonas is situated 40 km from Katerini. Access is easy from the National Motorway E75 and the railway station.
Beaches in Pieria
The coast of Pieria is unique due to its vast expanses of sandy beaches that you can find there. They extend over 70km from the resort of Nei Pori, to the slopes of Mount Olympus, right up to the village of Methoni and the wetlands surrounding the mouth of River Aliakmonas. Wide beaches of untouched natural beauty, rich golden stretches of sand interspersed with pebbles and the cooling shade of pine trees are combined in harmony with the peaceful blue waters of the sea.
Korinos: The area of Korinos has many beautiful beaches. Some of them have been awarded the blue flag – a signal of sea cleanliness.
Makrigialos: This small coastal village has a wide, organized, sandy beach, which gets quite crowded during summer months.
Beach of Katerini: This beach is located in a small village 8km from Katerini. The village accommodates thousands of tourists during summer months, mainly attracted by the amazing waters, the large market and the nightlife.
Olympic Coast-Katerinoskala: In the coasts of Olympus, which are the most expansive of Aegean, the sandy and spacious beach is very attractive. Visitors can walk along the beautiful coastline, that is surrounded by groves and pinewoods.
How to Reach Pieria
Pieria has the advantage of having one of the best road connections in Greece, and is easily accessible from all regions of the country and abroad. There are many buses daily to/from Athens, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Igoumenitsa, Alexandroupolis and Patras.
Weather in Pieria
The climate of Katerini is typically Mediterranean. It is generally mild with limited rainfalls and cool summers with a lot of sunshine. The lowest temperature during winter is between December and February from 3 to 19 degrees. The highest temperature occurs during summer months, from 23 to 34 degrees.
Top 10 Destinations in Pieria
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Map of Pieria