Central Pieria: A Timeless Passage

On one side, Katerini, at the crossroads that for centuries have led to the heart of Macedonia, and on the other, the Pierian Mountains, the homeland of the Muses, shrouded in greenery and flowing waters.

 

In the centre of Pieria, less than seventy kilometres from Thessaloniki, with the Pierian Mountains and Mount Olympus just a stone's throw away, and a coastal front stretching for many kilometres along the Thermaic Gulf from Korinos to Olympic Beach: Katerini lacks nothing.

Nor History: According to the most probable version, the small town of Atira was at some point renamed Aikaterini after the Christian martyr Catherine of Alexandria (4th century AD), with the more common name “Katerini” prevailing in the early 20th century, shortly before the city's liberation during the Balkan Wars in 1912.

In the following decade, the arrival of refugees (mainly from Arteskos in Eastern Thrace) doubled its population, followed by economic development, thanks primarily to extensive tobacco cultivation and an increase in the production of the Katerini variety.

The tobacco may have faded now, but the flame of a vibrant city, as Katerini continues to be, is still strong.

A stroll through the city will allow you to explore the municipal park, walk along the large pedestrian shopping street of Megalou Alexandrou, visit the Pontian Folklore Museum (behind the Park, tel. 23510 23941), and look for one of the cultural events of the active Estia Pieridon Mouson, which for six decades has upheld the banner of tradition.

Then you will head towards the sea: in summer, Korinos, Paralia, and Olympic Beach are flooded with tourists who wouldn't trade the sandy beaches and the area's nightlife for anything.

In winter, the picture is quite different; the coasts are rather deserted, but not the many fish taverns and restaurants that operate all year round along the coast.

In Korinos, on both sides of the National Road, you will see two tumuli rising, two Macedonian tombs from the 4th century BC, which are not yet open to visitors due to ongoing work.

[ Read also: Trip to Palaios Panteleimonas, Pieria! ]

In the Lairs of the Muses

Leaving Katerini, with your compass pointing west, you take the main provincial road that leads you directly to the Pierian Mountains.

Vast forests of beeches, oaks, chestnuts, firs, and pines; mountains lush but gentle, the Pierian Mountains had impressed the ancient Greeks with their richness and harmony, who (rightly) believed that this is where the Muses, the patrons of culture and arts, should reside.

Perhaps the divine presence also contributes to the unparalleled quality of Pieria's flora: the Pierian beech is considered the highest quality in the country; consider that King Otto's yacht was custom-built from Pierian beech.

Decades later, in the 1930s, a pioneering wood processing factory for its time was established in the village of Morna (today called Skoteina), on the outskirts of the Pierian Mountains, supplying high-quality timber to the Greek railways.

Hundreds of residents from the wider area found work at the factory, and Morna experienced great glory, to the point that in 1956, then Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis awarded the village a gold medal!

The beginning of the end came with the transfer of the factory to Katerini in the late 1960s, and gradually the village was deserted: its inhabitants abandoned it and built a new village named Foteina.

One of the most popular villages in the Pierian Mountains, Elatochori (28 km from Katerini), thanks to its beautiful location and nearby waterfalls, became even more famous due to its significant Muses Festival (the second fortnight of July) and its ski resort.

At an altitude of 1,450 m, it is the newest in Greece, having started operating only in 2001, offering ten slopes for beginners and advanced skiers.

When you come to Elatochori, also look for Olympus tea, a local variety now systematically cultivated by local growers, which is beginning to become widely known thanks to its quality and intense flavour.

 

[ Read also: The most beautiful and traditional villages of our country!]

 

Rachi and Milies

Among the villages you absolutely must visit are Milies: three in total, Kato Milia, Mesaia Milia, and Ano Milia (26 km from Katerini).

In the latter, you will see the now-ruined tower of the Lazaioi, a historical family of Klephts and Armatoloi active from 1700 until the late 19th century.

Approximately 7.5 km outside Ano Milia, deep in the forest, there is a memorial commemorating the crash of a Yakovlev aircraft, which in December 1997 crashed in the Pierian Mountains, killing 73 passengers.

An alpine route to Flambouro, the highest peak of the Pierian Mountains (2,197 m), also starts from Ano Milia.

Near Milies, but on the south side of the main provincial road, lies the small village of Rachi, home to Apostolis Kourtis' winery. It's also worth following the route further south to the villages of Petra and Agios Dimitrios.

Just before reaching Petra, you will pass the facilities of the old Psychiatric Clinic. It no longer operates, however, former employees and residents return here every 21st November to attend the procession of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary icon, which takes place in the hospital courtyard and the ancient church of Panagia (12th century).

Finally, in Agios Dimitrios, you will see deer and wild boars up close at the Dimatis brothers' breeding unit.

And you will come again on New Year's Day for the Lagkatzaria, an ancient custom where locals dress head-to-toe in bells and go from house to house for a treat, making a tremendous racket.

To explore the area, you will need to rent a car! Do it through Travelo.gr without a credit card or guarantee!