Discover Palaios Panteleimonas in Pieria, a beautiful village for lovers of traditional architecture and pristine natural landscapes.
The mythical Olympus hides on its slopes villages - gems that are perfect for excursions and explorations in every season. One of them is Palaios Panteleimonas of Pieria. Nestled on the slopes of Lower Olympus, at an altitude of about 500 meters and a short distance from the sea, this beautiful village-«balcony» is a designated traditional settlement as it is one of the best examples of traditional Macedonian architecture in Northern Greece.
About 100 km. from Thessaloniki and 400 km. from Athens you will need to travel to reach Palaios Panteleimonas,to stroll its cobbled streets among the beautiful stone houses and enjoy a stunning view from the Thermaic Gulf to the peaks of the «mountain of the gods».
A village from another era
Palaios Panteleimonas managed to keep its local color as it had almost been deserted since the 1950s, when its inhabitants moved en masse to the seaside settlement of Neos Panteleimonas. In the 1980s, however, it was restored and the village began to come to life again and to develop touristically.
In the early 1980s, Theodoros Angelopoulos shot there for the film «Megalexandros». Many years later, in 2008, Kostas Koutsomytis found in Palaios Panteleimonas the ideal setting for the television adaptation of Dido Sotirious novel «Matomena Chomata».
The traditional character of the settlement, as well as its short distance from the tourist resorts of Pieria and from the Athens - Thessaloniki national highway, sent the area’s tourism soaring. Today, Palaios Panteleimonas is a popular destination for every season of the year. In winter the landscape is enchanting, while in summer it offers cool respite and is only a few kilometers from the beaches of Pieria.
Cars are not allowed in the village, and they stay in the parking lot at the entrance of the settlement. A square with centuries-old plane trees, stone houses with red tiled roofs, stone-built cobbled lanes and a natural landscape of unique beauty create a one-of-a-kind, film-like setting.
In the central square stands the Church of Agios Panteleimon, which gave the village its name, and the restored old school. Here you will find many traditional tavernas to savor excellent local cuisine with local wine and tsipouro, as well as shops with souvenirs and folk art items.
The dense forest of chestnut, strawberry trees and beech that embraces the village lends itself to hiking routes, mountain biking, 4×4 routes and other outdoor activities. Very close to the village lies the impressive Platamon Castle, while another must-do outing is Litochoro and the Enipeas Gorge with its famous waterfalls.
Accommodation
- Feggaropetra Inn Magic Mountain House, just 100 m. from the central square, is a traditional guesthouse immersed in greenery, with six spacious rooms and unobstructed sea views.
- Pleiades is a mansion that preserves all the characteristics of Macedonian architecture, but with every modern amenity.
- A good option is also Xenonas To Chani, near the village square.
Food
- In the square of the settlement, at Taverna Olympos you will find a wide variety of home-cooked dishes, as well as spit-roasted and grilled meats.
- At the traditional wine taverna of the guesthouse To Chani they use fresh, locally produced ingredients and cook in a traditional wood-fired oven. Dont miss Mr. Theodoross hilopites.
- Sit as well at Palio Kafeneio to enjoy your coffee and dessert with a fantastic view.
