The legendary Mount Olympus hides on its slopes villages - gems that are perfectfor intriguing excursions and explorations in all seasons.
It is the highest mountain in Greece,the country’s first National Park, a UNESCO-designated protected ecosystem, and the home of the twelve gods. Its impressive elevation (2.918 m.), unique natural landscapes and mythical allure make Olympus a magnet for thousands of visitors from every corner of the world. On the mountain of the gods you will find villagesof unique beauty set amid gloriousnature, which are an ideal base for wandering the mountain’s slopes and discovering its charms.
Four beautiful villages of Mount Olympus
Litochoro
A classic base for exploring the mythical mountain is the picturesque Litochoro, at the foot of its eastern side, 25 km from Katerini.It is the gateway to Olympus, yet it lies just a few kilometers from the sea. From the central square begins a labyrinth of narrow lanes, while at the top of the settlement lies the old village. Macedonian-style houses, neoclassical captains’ mansions, small neighborhood squares, stone fountains and churches compose the character of the settlement. Nature lovers can visit the Enipeas River gorge via an impressive route starting at the Mills, at an elevation of 400 m. The lush trail (part of the European long-distance path E4) leads to wooden footbridges that link sections of the gorge, while it passes the Holy Cave (where Saint Dionysios lived as an ascetic), the Monastery of Saint Dionysios (15th century) and beautiful waterfalls with natural pools just before Prionia (1.100m.).
Palaios Panteleimonas
A beautiful settlement on the slopes of Lower Olympus, wrapped in chestnut, strawberry and beech trees and with sweeping views over the Thermaic Gulf and the shores of Southern Pieria, Palaios Panteleimonas will win you overat first sight. It is a designated traditional settlement, as it is one of the finest examples of traditional Macedonian architecture in northern Greece. The village managed to preserve its local character as it was almost abandoned from the 1950s. In the 1980s, however, it was restored and the village came back to life.A square shaded by centuries-old plane trees, the restored old school, stone houses with red-tiled roofs, stone-built cobbled lanes and a natural landscape of singular beauty create a unique, cinematic setting.The dense forest of chestnuts, strawberry trees and beeches embracing the village lends itself to hiking routes, mountain biking, 4×4 drives and other outdoor activities.
Ano Skotina
Seven kilometers from Agios Panteleimonas lies Ano or Old Skotina, built on a wooded mountainside at an elevation of about 750 meters. This once-abandoned settlement has been flourishing in recent years and attracts visitorsin every season. Part of the village has been reconstructed through the efforts of the state and private individuals. On your stroll through Ano Skotina you will see stone-built houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as two notable churches: the Church of Saint Athanasios (14th century) with its remarkable carved wooden iconostasis, and the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin (1862).
Palaioi Poroi
Just 6 km from the Platamonas junction, after a lush green drive, you will come upon the traditional settlement of Palaioi Poroi, nestled at 600 meters elevation. The village is particularly picturesquewith handsome stone houses dating from the18th and 19th centuries, cobbled lanes and a lovely flagstone square with a taverna, a towering plane tree and wonderful views of the Thermaic Gulf. Above the settlement lies a beautiful forest with two very pretty chapels, of the HolyApostlesand of Zoodochos Pigi.
