Blog

Carnival in Dion-Olympus, Pieria | Apokries, Traditions & Local Celebrations Carnival in the Municipality of Dion-Olympus is not one single celebration. It unfolds across towns and villages, bringing together Apokries traditions, parades, music, dancing, food, bonfires and local customs beneath Mount Olympus. Carnival in Dion-Olympus at a Glance Region: Pieria, Greece Municipality: Dion-Olympus Season: Apokries […]

Clean Monday in Pieria, Greece | Koulouma, Kite Flying & Local Traditions Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) marks the beginning of Great Lent in Greece and the end of the Carnival season. In Pieria, the day is closely connected with Koulouma, kite flying, traditional Lenten food, outdoor gatherings and the arrival of spring. Clean Monday Koulouma […]

Tsiknopempti is an extraordinary pre-Lenten celebration all over Greece on the Thursday of the second week of the Triodion. This celebration is a time to indulge in a large quantity of grilled meat, marking the final feast before the fasting period of Lent begins. Pieria region is the most incredible region where Tsiknopempti is celebrated […]

Tsigaridas Festival in Lofos, Pieria | Pork, Local Food & Greek Tradition In the mountain village of Lofos, Pieria, winter has its own flavours. One of them is tsigarida — a traditional pork preparation connected with rural life, seasonal food and the way local families preserved and used meat through the colder months. Tsigaridas Festival […]

Christmas in Katerini, Pieria | Christmas Market, Events & Winter Experiences Christmas in Katerini brings together the atmosphere of a Greek city, festive decorations, local traditions, food and winter experiences — with the mountains of Pieria and Mount Olympus only a short distance away. Christmas atmosphere in the streets of Katerini, Pieria. Christmas in Katerini […]

The First Ascent of Mount Olympus | Boissonnas, Baud-Bovy & Kakkalos More than a century ago, Mount Olympus was a very different mountain from the one hikers know today. There were no marked trails, modern mountain refuges or climbing infrastructure leading towards its highest summit. On 2 August 1913, Frédéric Boissonnas, Daniel Baud-Bovy and Christos […]

Skoteina Morna, Pieria | The Abandoned Mountain Village in the Forest Deep in the forests of Pieria lies Skoteina Morna, an abandoned mountain settlement with a history that reaches back more than a century. Today, old houses, stone pathways, the church of Agios Nikolaos and the remains of the village’s former timber industry slowly disappear […]

Elatochori, Pieria | Mountain Village, Ski Resort & Local Experiences A mountain destination in Pieria where village life, forests, winter sports and local experiences meet. If you are looking for a different side of Pieria, leave the coast behind and head into the mountains. Elatochori is one of the region’s best-known mountain destinations, surrounded by […]

History & Archaeology · Byzantine Heritage · Northern Pieria Ancient Pydna, Pieria | Ancient City, Byzantine Ruins & Sea Views Ancient History · Archaeological Heritage · Aegean Coast Explore the layered history of an ancient coastal settlement, where archaeological remains and Byzantine structures meet the landscape of the Aegean. On the coast of Pieria, where […]

Autumn in Pieria, Greece | Mountains, Forests, Food & Local Life Autumn changes the rhythm of Pieria. The summer heat softens, the forests of Mount Olympus begin to change colour, the mountain villages become quieter, and the season brings its own collection of local food, harvest traditions and outdoor experiences. From the slopes of Mount […]

Blue Flag Beaches in Pieria | The 2023 List & What It Means How do you choose a beach in Pieria? For some travellers, it is the sand. For others, the view of Mount Olympus, the space, the cafés and tavernas, water sports, easy access or simply the feeling of being by the Aegean. One […]

Olympus Festival 2023 | Culture, Music & Theatre in Pieria The Olympus Festival returned to Pieria in 2023 with a summer programme of theatre, music, dance, cinema and cultural events held across some of the region’s most distinctive historic and cultural locations. From the Ancient Theatre of Dion and Platamon Castle to cultural spaces in […]