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CAMPING HOTEL - OLYMPIOS ZEUS 
The "Olympios Zeus" hotel cluster is found at one of the most beautiful areas of Greece, which is a centre of attraction for thousands of Greek and foreign tourists and an ideal destination for unique holidays. In Plaka of Litochoro, under the mountain of the gods, Olympus, at the coasts of Pieria. In front of one of the most beautiful coasts of Aegean and inside a verdurous extent of 52 . It is 4 km away from Litochoro and Leptokarya, 20 km away from Katerini and 90 km away from Thessaloniki. The unit has an area of 100 bungalows for camping and all the services that will make your stay effortless and unforgettable. Furthermore, the cluster has a restaurant in front of the sea with Greek kitchen, where you can enjoy a tasty breakfast or a wonderful meal and a special beach bar, at the sand of the amazing beach. It also has a pizzeria - grill, bar, mini market, 2 tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, a beach volley court, a playground and a lot of sea sports for all the tastes. Prefecture of Pieria
Plaka Litohoro
HISTORY - ARCHAEOLOGY the country of Pieria is an area rich in attractions of great historical and archaelogical interest to the visitor. These attractions range from the wealth of findings at the Neolithic Settlement in Makrigialos through the remains of Pydna to the ruins of the City of Dion and the Castle at Platamonas. Monasteries and Churches are to be found in abundance, bearing witness to the extensive history of our area. The farmer's plough is constantly bringing new discoveries to the surface in this part of the world. NATURAL ENVIRONMET Mount Olympo, Titaros and the mountain range of Pieria, the coastal wetlands and the sea complete the integrated ecosystem of Pieria. Both taken as a whole and in its individual parts, the land of Pieria can be seen to be one of great envirnmental and natural wealth, with a particularly wide variety of plants and animals. Ii offers an ecologican and aesthetic variety of great worth, a characteristic element in satisfying the most demanding visitor. AGROTOURISM The mountainous nature of the region, with mighty Olympus, Titaros and Pieria itself, the wetlands teeming with rarebirds and plants as well as the mountainous terrain make this an ideal environment for rural tourist activities for all those who visit Pieria. Accommodation of every type, from authentic original guest houses, rooms to rent and hotels for climbers, go hand in hand with picturesque taverns to ensure a comfortable stay in the mountain regions. For those interested in agriculture and traditional methods of farming and produce, the traditioanl way of life and the friendly welcome extended to all our visitons satisfy their search for ecologically friendly tourism. BEACHES The coast of Pieria iis unique because of the vast expanses of sandy beaches that you can find there. They extend for over 70 kms from the resort of Nei Pori, skirting the fringes of the mythical slopes of Mount Olympus, right up to the village of Methon and the wetlands surrounding the mouth of the river Aliakmonas. Wide beaches of unspoirt natural beauty, with rich golden stretches of sand interspersed with pebbles an cool groves of pine, lead down to the peaceful blue waters of the warm inviting sea. here all the tourists needs are catered for : a cosmopolitan environment and a vidrant nightlife, a unigue and complete summer resort with easy and safe access which affers visitors the opportunity to take in all the historical, ecological, rural and cultural sights of the country. OLYMPUS THE FIRST NATIONAL PARK In 1938, Olympus, the highest Greek mountain, the residence of the twelve ancient gods, was the first area which was declared as a National Park. About 50 years ago a special regime was enforced to protect this unique part of our country.
The aim was the preservation of the natural environment; of the flora, fauna and natural landscapes, as well as of its cultural and other values. Scientific research had to be supported and people had to become aware of the environmental conditions. Furthermore tourism had to be developed in the wider area.
Specific laws prohibit any kind of exploitation in the east side of the mountain, about 10,000 acres, which constitutes the core of the National Park. The wider area around it was designated as “peripheral zone of the National Park” so that its management and exploitation won’t affect negatively the protection of the core.
Olympus is internationally known as for its important ecological characteristics and incomparable natural beauty as well as for its strong relationship with ancient Greek mythology. The importance of the National Park has been recognized not only in Greece and Europe but all over the world. In 1981 UNESCO declared “Olympus a Biosphere Reserve”. The European Community has included Olympus in the list of “The Most Important Bird areas of the European Community”. LOCATION Mount Olympus is located on the border of Macedonia and Thessaly between the prefectures of Pieria and Larissa. The highest point of Mount Olympus, Mytikas, is located 263 km from Athens and 78 km from Thessaloniki as the crow flies and 18 km from the coast of Pieria and 24 km from Katerini. SIZE Olympus expands over approximately 500 km2 and covers an essentially circular area with a width of approximately 25 km and a circumference of 80 km. The Olympus National Park covers an area of 238,411,000 m2 with the heart being 40 million m2. MORPHOLOGY Mount Olympus is highest mountain in Greece and the second highest mountain in the Balkans. The terrain contains many charming and splendid features amongst which are sheer rocky peaks, deep gorges, alpine fields and thick forest all combining to create the rare magic of Mount Olympus. In total there are 52 peaks ranging from altitudes of 760 m to 2918 m which combined with the sheer ravines create scenes of unique beauty. GEOLOGY The strata of Mount Olympus started to form over 200 million years ago at the bottom of a comparably shallow sea from which it emerged and began to gradually take its shape. During the period of the Ice Age some significant changes took place in to the shape of the mountain as the ice melted bringing huge layers of rock from the peak of the mountain to its foothills. With the melting of the last ice around 10,000 years ago Mount Olympus took on its final shape. SPECIAL FEATURES There are no lakes on Mount Olympus with the exception of the small periodic lakes in the areas of Bara and Dristela which are formed by melting snow. Furthermore a small man-made lake was created in recent years at the mouth of Xerolakki Stream above the village of Petra. Officially no mention has been made of large caves, which does not of course rule them out. However, there are frequent many small caves, chasms, caves created by the snow and crevices. Many of the streams have a water flow through out the year and due to the exceptional quality of the water it is channelled directly into the local water supply. There are many streams on Olympus, but few are to be found at an altitude of over 1000 m. CLIMATE The climate of Olympus is affected by its geographical location, size, strata and the exposure of the mountain slopes. Generally speaking it has a Mediterranean climate, warm and dry in the summer and wet in the winter. For approximately seven months of the year it is covered in snow (from November to May). Mount Olympus has a high level of precipitation throughout the year in the form of snow in the winter and rain and hail in the summer. In fact the level of precipitation on Olympus is 3 to 4 times higher than that in Athens or Thessaloniki (1100 to 1800 mm of precipitation a year, while in Thessaloniki precipitation is 500 mm and in Athens 400 mm annually). Half of the precipitation falls as snow and the other half in the form of rain and hail. The average temperature in the winter ranges from -20o C to +10o C and in the summer from 0o C to 20o C, though this is not to say that there are not some exceptions that fall outside these ranges. Every 100 m up Mount Olympus the temperature drops by approximately half a degree. Thus if at sea level the temperature is 20o C at the same time on Mytikas Peak (2918 m) the temperature will be approximately 5o C. Finally strong winds are a common phenomenon on Mount Olympus and sometimes the wind reaches speeds of over 100 km per hour. MYTHOLOGY – HISTORY The shape of Olympus, the polymorphous and changeable beauty of its nature, the fog covered peaks and law clouds bringing about frequent the under storms, filled people with awe and admiration from ancient times. There are recent archaeological finds that go back to the Iron Age. Prehistoric man chose to live at the foot of this glorious mountain. Inspired by its mystery he created the legends that gave birth to the Twelve Greek Gods.
The twelve gods live in ravines, “the mysterious folds of Olympus” according to Homer. They have their palaces there. Pantheon (today’s Mytikas) is their meeting place. Their tempestuous discussions are heard by the god of gods Zeus sitting on his imposing throne (today’s Stefani). From there he unlooses his thunders showing “his godly wrath”. In Iliad Olympus is described as magnificent, long, glorious and full of trees. At the foot of the mountain, 5 kilometres from the sea, a sacred Macedonian city is dedicated to Zeus (Dias) and is called Dion. It is estimated that it flourished between the 5th century B.C. and the 5th century A.C. The excavations, that started in 1928 and are still going on, revealed archaeological finds of the Macedonian, Greek and Roman Era. They are exhibited in the museum of Dion. Piblia and Livithra are two more ancient cities near Olympus and are closely related to the legend of Orpheus and the Orphic Secret ceremonies. The history of Olympus continued being turbulent even under the Turkish occupation. The mountain was used as a hiding place for the famous “armatol” fighting the “yoke of the tyrant”. During the German invasion in 1941, the Greek army along with Australian and New Zealand units fought important battles. Later on the Greek Resistance found a nestling place there. The whole Olympus has been declared an archaeological and historical place in order to preserve its monumental and historical physiognomy. | PALAIOS PANTELEIMONAS Archaeological evidence dates Palaios Panteleimonas to the end of the 14th century. Today it is a stunning restored traditional village on the slopes of Kato Olympus at an altitude of 700 m with an impressive view over the Thermaikos Gulf, the coast of south Pieria and the Venetian castle, Platamonas. A strict uniform architectural design has been maintained which is immediately obvious and which separates this village from others. Old Agios Panteleimonas church stands in the central square of the village with its age-old plane trees and the old school along with a good number of traditional taverns. The approach to the village and the surrounding area is marked by a rich forest of chestnut, beech and arbutus trees and the rich flora and fauna of Kato Olympus. It is an ideal area for hikes in nature, parachuting, paragliding, mountain biking and 4x4 routes all of which are on offer. There are many traditional guesthouses offering accommodation and local taverns serving the local dishes of the area, spicy mezes, local wine and traditional tsipouro from the arbutus berries of Olympus. Palaios Panteleimonas is located just 6 km from the village and beach of Neos Panteleimonas which also offers many options for accommodation, food, recreation and tourist information. During the summer months many cultural events are organised in Platamonas Castle as a part of the Olympus Festival. Palaios Panteleimonas is easy to access from the National Road E75 (at the junction of Panteleimonas and Platamonas) and by National Rail (Neoi Poroi Station). PALAIOI POROI On the southeast outskirts of Olympus at an altitude of 600 m is Palaioi Poroi, a traditional village with stone houses from the 17th and 18th centuries and the Byzantine church of Agios Georgios in the paved central square. There is a stunning forest above the village which is a great place to walk and admire the flora and fauna of Kato Olympus. Furthermore there are two impressive churches which are well worth a visit, Agioi Apostoloi Church and Zoodochos Pigi Church.South of the village is the aquatic landscape of Pappapouli in Neoi Poroi where visitors can investigate the unique natural fish farm of the prefecture. Nine km towards the sea is the seaside village of Neoi Poroi which has hotels of all classes, many rooms for rent, restaurants, fish taverns, places to enjoy ouzo with mezes and manyother food and leisure options.Palaioi Poroi is situated 45 km from Katerini, the capital of the prefecture and access is easy along the National road E75 (Platamonas junction). PALAIA SKOTINA This traditional village on the slopes of Kato Olympus has the impressive Agios Athanasios church datingto the14th centurywith a unique wood-carved iconostasis. In the central square of the village is the parish church of the Dormition of the Virgin (Koimiseos Theotokou) which is a three-aisled post-Byzantine basilica with a wooden roof built in 1862 on the site of a much older church. From here there are some highly interesting hikes to be done offering a good opportunity to admire the flora and fauna of Kato Olympus. Mountain biking and routes for 4x4 vehicles are also plentiful. There are two guesthouses in the village and more hotels and rooms for rent can be found along Skotina Beach as well as in the nearby villages of the area. Palaia Skotina is just 7 km from Skotina village and 9 km from Skotina beach and 40 km from Katerini with excellent access along the National Road E75 (Skotina junction) and via National Rail. LITOCHORO Litochoro is a small modern town with a population of 7000 inhabitants located at the foothills of Mount Olympus just five km from the sea. It combines the cool of the mountain air with the sea breeze and visitors can walk around the lanes between the traditional houses with the Macedonian architecture, the old wooden courtyard doors and the gabled roofs, work of Litochoro wood turners and stonemasons. The local folk traditions are kept alive through customs that are continued to the present day, such as Sichna for the feast of the Epiphany (January 6) and the burning of the cedar tree for the carnival. Litochoro is an ideal base for investigating the wider area due to its easy access and excellent tourist infrastructure.
DION- ANCIENT DION Dion has a population of 1554 inhabitants and is an important point of interest for Greek and foreign tourists alike. Each year thousands of tourists visit the archaeological site and the Archaeological Museum to admire the findings from the holy city of the Macedonians. In the summer the Ancient Theatre is brought to life with performances and concerts of the Olympus Festival. Dion was the holy city of the Macedonians. Its heyday is dated to the years of Archelaus (414-399 BC) when the king would organise nine days of games in honour of Olympian Zeus and the Muses. Furthermore it was here that Philip initially celebrated his glorious victories and Alexander the Great began his great campaign in the name of Olympian Zeus.
PETRA A small village of 120 inhabitants built on the northwest foothills of the mountain with a wonderful view over Pieria Plain. The village was originally named Lokovi and is located close to the historical location of Petra which in ancient years was the passage from Pieria to the rest of Greece. Due to the altitude and location of the village (580 m) it is a good starting point for routes which begin or end at Xerolakki Stream and is a great spot to enjoy fine food at the end of a hike. KARYA Karya has a population of 833 inhabitants and is located at the foothills of the south side of Mount Olympus. Despite being a small village it has a rich tradition, both mythological and folk. In ancient times close to Karya was located the town of Leivithra which tradition has it that was the birthplace of Orpheus. Eight km from Karya is Klimadon Monastery (which today is known as Naidrion of Agia Triada) which played an important role during the Turkish occupation. The contribution of Kanalon Monastery was also significant during the same period, which is a monastery of the 9th century located seven km along the Karya – Leptokarya road. The visitor can also go to Xerolaka which is an organised recreation area with hiking paths close to Ziliana River, Samara spring or Spilaio tou Moria (Moria Cave) in Bechtesi which was used as a refuge by guerrillas. KOKKINOPILOS Located at an altitude of 1250 m, this is a small village with approximately 220 inhabitants. It dates back to the 12th Century and in 1442 AD it was occupied by the Turks and during WWII the occupiers set fire to the village. Some of the sites worth visiting from Kokkinopilos include: many springs, Stalagmatia spring, Kroutseli and Tsiamara. Additionally many paths and routes to Olympus start out here. MONASTERIES AGIOS DIONYSIOS MONASTERY ON OLYMPUS Agios Dionysios Monastery (Metochio) is located 3 km from Litochoro. It was transferred here by the fraternal order in 1950 after the Germans destroyed the main monastery in 1943. The main monastery dates back to 1542 and is located 17 km from Litochoro, it is currently undergoing restoration works. Saint Dionysios’ grave is to be found in the restored katholicon. Half an hour from the monastery on a wonderful walk through caves is Agion Spilaion (holy cave) where ascetics have lived as hermits and a source of holy water which is visited daily by many pilgrims. Twenty-four monks live in the new monastery, Metochio, and follow the formulary of Mount Athos and receive many visitors throughout the year. The monastery has an amazing vestry (museum) which was inaugurated on 29th May 1999 by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and which houses precious heirlooms. Amongst others the monks who reside in the monastery spend time organic farming and produce fantastic organic produce, cheeses, honey, eggs, etc.
The monastery is open from dawn to dusk and is easy to access from Litochoro. PETRA MONASTERY A historical monastery on the north side of Mount Olympus built at an altitude of 430 m close to Petra village. The katholicon has been preserved from the old monastery and the surrounding buildings have been fitted to host psychiatric patients. AGIA TRIADA MONASTERY IN SPARMOS This monastery played an important role in the fight for freedom from the Turkish occupiers. It is built on the southwest side of Olympus at an altitude of 1020 m at the mouth of Mavratza Gorge. It has been almost entirely restored. KANALON MONASTERY It is built on the north side of Ziliana Gorge at an altitude of 820 m five km from Karya village and 19 km from Leptokarya. It takes its name from the canals (kanali) of water that flowed through the area. The monastery is dedicated to the birth of the Virgin Mary and celebrates its feast day on September 8. Tradition has it that the monastery was established by KLIMADON MONASTERY Built at the foothills of Mount Olympus at an altitude of 1320 m, 7.5 km north of Karya is Agia Triada Monastery, also known as Agios Ieromartyros Eleftherios Monastery, Klymendou Monastery and simply as Palaiomonastiro (old monastery). According to one story the monastery was established in 1640 though other references date the monastery to much later. During the period of the Turkish occupation it functioned as a secret school and housed a rich library. The Turks set fire to the monastery in 1823 and then in 1833 it was completely destroyed by a fire started by a monk called Evgenios. A chapel was built on the site of the monastery in 1913 which remains standing to the present day. Food / Τοπική κουζίνα Τhe local cuisine offers a wide variety of traditional foods, sweets and drinks customarily made with genuine local ingredients which ensure healthy nutritious and delicious dining. The visitor can expect plentiful traditional Greek dishes with the scent of oregano, parsley, basil, mint, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. The local cuisine is characterised by meat dishes, cheese-based dishes and pies which go a long way to making up a delicious spread of table. The ingredients are based on the healthy delicious olive oil, vegetables, grains and fish from the Mediterranean which are the bases of the Mediterranean diet. The majority of these can be enjoyed in the restaurants and taverns of the area. The local dishes are served with white or red wine which is produced in the area and there is a wide variety of wines of different types on offer from the rest of Greece and the world. Furthermore ouzo or tsipouro made from arbutus berries or grapes are biological local drinks to accompany the traditional mezes. There is a wide variety of local liqueurs made with traditional methods with fruits such as cranberries, blackberries, mandarins and bitter almonds, which can be found in abundance in the whole region. Traditional sweet fruit syrups, jams, compotes, honey and apicultural products bring images, tastes and smells of times past. The products are made in traditional factories with non-automated production methods to maintain top quality and homemade tastes made only from fruits collected from the surrounding mountains. Some of the delights on offer are syrups from fig, cherry, apricot, water-melon, pumpkin, apple, kiwi, orange, bergamot and mandarin. Furthermore delicious jams are made from strawberry, cherry, kiwi, quince and orange. MOUNTAIN ROUTES There are many hiking routes on Mount Olympus, but due to the special nature of the mountain which has been declared a Protected Natural Area – National Park, only the most well established have been selected and proposed. The routes that lead to the heart of the National Park (Livadaki – Kalogeros – Baras Plateau – Mavrolongos) are not mentioned in an effort to ensure the protection of the natural environment in accordance with the current legislation.  |
