Local Stories & People

The Story Behind Experience Pieria: The Pieria I Know

Every place has its own story. Sometimes you discover it through its landscapes, sometimes through its people, and sometimes through the small moments that make you feel connected to a place.

Experience Pieria began with a simple idea: to share the region as I experience it — through authentic places, local people, everyday moments and stories that deserve to be discovered.

It is not just a guide to destinations. It is a personal journey through the place I have come to call home.

1. From Athens to the Foot of Mount Olympus

In 2013, I left Alimos and moved to Litochoro, at the foot of Mount Olympus. It was a major change in everyday life — from the rhythm of a large city to a place where the mountain, the sea and nature are part of the landscape around you.

Over time, Pieria became much more than the place where I lived. It became a place to explore, observe, photograph and understand. I started discovering its villages, walking its paths, visiting its coast and meeting people whose everyday lives are closely connected to the land.

Living here has given me the opportunity to experience the region beyond the familiar landmarks. I have learned that some of its most meaningful moments are found away from the obvious routes — in a quiet forest, beside a river, in a village square or during an unexpected conversation.

Mount Olympus is an important part of this relationship with the region. Its trails, forests, streams and changing seasons offer endless opportunities to discover something new. But the mountain is only one part of the wider story of Pieria.

You can explore more about the mountain in

Mount Olympus: Myth, Nature and History
.

2. Discovering the Pieria Beyond the Familiar Places

When people think of Pieria, they often think of Mount Olympus, the beaches of the Thermaic Gulf or the archaeological site of Dion. These places are important, but they are only part of what makes the region interesting.

There are traditional villages, mountain roads, small chapels, forest paths, rivers and places where local history remains part of everyday life. There are also quieter corners that rarely appear in conventional travel guides.

One of the things I enjoy most is discovering these places without rushing. Sometimes a walk becomes a story. Sometimes a photograph captures a moment that would otherwise pass unnoticed.

Places like the Holy Cave of Saint Dionysios remind me that the identity of Olympus is shaped not only by its natural environment but also by centuries of history, faith and human presence.

I want Experience Pieria to help visitors look beyond a checklist of attractions and discover the different layers of this region.

3. Real Stories, Real People

A destination is not defined only by its scenery. It is also defined by the people who live and work there — the families who maintain traditions, the producers who care for their land, the craftspeople who keep skills alive and the people who welcome visitors into their everyday world.

These encounters are an important part of what I want to share through Experience Pieria. Behind a local product there is often a family, a story, a particular way of working and a connection with the place where it comes from.

I believe that discovering a destination becomes more meaningful when we take the time to understand the people behind it. Their experiences add depth to the places we visit and help us see the region from a different perspective.

4. Local Food, Producers and Seasonal Experiences

Food is another way of understanding a place. In Pieria, the landscape changes from the mountains to the fertile plains and the coast, creating different agricultural products, flavours and local traditions.

I enjoy discovering the people and stories behind these products — from olive oil and fruit to chestnuts and other seasonal produce. Following the work of local producers offers a closer look at the relationship between the land, the seasons and the people who depend on them.

During the olive harvest near Leptokarya, I had the opportunity to follow part of this process and learn more about the work behind local olive oil. One of these stories is connected with

Forelia and the olive harvest in Pieria
.

Seasonal experiences are equally important. Autumn, for example, brings chestnut harvesting and local celebrations in the mountain villages. In Skotina, a walk through a chestnut forest can become an opportunity to discover the landscape, the harvest and the flavours associated with this time of year.

These are the kinds of experiences I want to bring closer to visitors: not simply where to eat or what to buy, but the stories, people and traditions that give local food its meaning.

You can read more in

Cooking on Mount Olympus: An Autumn Story
.

5. Photography, Creativity and Culture

Photography and video have become natural ways for me to document the places, people and experiences I encounter. I am interested in more than a beautiful image. I want to capture atmosphere, details and the feeling of being somewhere.

This approach has also led to creative collaborations and projects that bring together photography, people, music and the landscapes of Olympus.

One example was the first OLYMPUS TFP FESTIVAL, a creative gathering in Pieria that connected photographers, models and other creative professionals with some of the region’s distinctive locations.

The meeting of photography, music and the natural surroundings of Olympus became one of the moments that connected the creative side of the project with the cultural identity of the region.

Another day, another encounter with the cultural heritage of Greece. On 9 January, musician and lyre maker Christos Kyparissas shared the sound of the ancient Greek lyre through his performance of the Seikilos Epitaph, played on an instrument of his own creation.

These creative encounters offer another way to explore the cultural identity of a place, connecting its landscapes with music, tradition and contemporary artistic expression.

Read more about the project:

OLYMPUS TFP FESTIVAL: Where Photography Meets the Landscape of Olympus
.

6. A Platform for Visitors and Local Businesses

As the project developed, I realised that sharing stories was only one part of what Experience Pieria could become. There was also a need for a useful place where visitors could discover local accommodation, activities, experiences, places and events.

This is how the idea of Experience Pieria as a curated tourism hub began to take shape. The aim is to bring together useful information and authentic local experiences in one place, helping travellers explore the region while giving local businesses and professionals an opportunity to present what they offer.

The platform is organised around different ways of discovering Pieria:

• Places: villages, natural locations, cultural landmarks and destinations.
• Accommodation: places to stay, from hotels and guesthouses to independent properties.
• Activities: outdoor adventures, workshops, tasting experiences and ways to connect with local life.
• Events: festivals, celebrations and activities that bring communities together.

The intention is not to create another crowded advertising directory. I want Experience Pieria to remain selective, useful and connected to the real character of the destination.

Local businesses interested in becoming part of the platform can find more information on the

Join Experience Pieria

page.

As Experience Pieria continues to grow, another direction is taking shape: working directly with international travel professionals, tour operators, travel writers and creative teams who need reliable local knowledge and practical support on the ground.

Through our

Destination Field Research & Content Production

service, we help clients understand Pieria beyond online information. This can include destination research, visitor journey reviews, local coordination, photography, video and original editorial content.

Being based in Litochoro, at the foot of Mount Olympus, allows me to approach this work from a local perspective — combining first-hand knowledge of the region with practical research and creative production.

7. The Journey Continues

Experience Pieria is an ongoing project. It grows through new encounters, new places, conversations, photographs and stories. Some discoveries are planned, while others happen unexpectedly — and often those are the moments that stay with me the longest.

I want to continue exploring the region with curiosity and an open mind, sharing not only its well-known attractions but also the everyday details that make it distinctive.

For visitors, I hope Experience Pieria becomes a starting point for discovering a different side of the region. For local people and businesses, I hope it becomes a meaningful way to share their work, their stories and their connection with this place.

Because Pieria is not just a destination to visit. It is a place to experience — through its landscapes, its people, its traditions and the small moments that make a journey memorable.

Real stories. Real experiences. The Pieria I know.

This is the idea behind Experience Pieria. And the journey continues.