The prefecture of Pieria is one of the 13 prefectures of Macedonia. It borders to the north with the prefecture of Imathia, to the west with the prefecture of Kozani, to the south with the prefecture of Larissa, while to the east it is bathed by the Thermaikos Gulf and the Aegean Sea.

Seat of the prefecture: Katerini
Prefecture population: 129.846 (2001 census)
Distance of the prefecture seat from Athens: 440 km

The main areas of the prefecture are: Katerini, Elatohori, Platamonas, Litohoro, Leptokarya, Korinos, Makriyalos, Methoni, Kolindros, Agios Dimitrios.

The terrain is mountainous in the western and the southern part, while the entire eastern part of the prefecture, from the coastline to the interior, consists of fertile plains. The peak Pantheon (2.917 m), the tallest of Mount Olympus, is located on the border of the prefectures of Pieria and Larissa, while the plain of Katerini is part of the great plane of Macedonia.

The main source of income for the prefecture is agriculture, with crops of grains, fruit, legumes, market garden produce, farming plants, sugar beets and tobacco.

The area is quite developed touristically, with the main focus on the long coastline, where beautiful tourist resorts are located, but also on the Mount Olympus foothills, where excellent options for winter tourism are available. The diversity of the landscape, the harmonious co-existence of mountain and sea, the plethora of spots of natural beauty, the archaeological sites, the historical monuments, the traditional settlements, the opportunities for sports activities and the modern tourist infrastructure, all make the prefecture of Pieria an attractive destination, all year round.

The city of Katerini, seat of the prefecture, is the centre of all the activities in Pieria. It is a city with good city planning, modern buildings, beautiful parks and many squares, such as the central Eleftheria Square. Stroll along the pedestrian street of Megas Alexandros (Alexander the Great), which crosses the commercial centre of the city, where you can find many stores, cafes and restaurants. Here you can spend time shopping, enjoying your coffee and exploring the culinary pleasures of the local cuisine. Do not miss the Folk Museum of the Greeks of Black Sea, where antiquities of that area are on exhibit. Also, do not forget to have a pleasant walk in the beautiful park of the city.

Some 17 km from the city of Katerini, is located the archaeological site of Dion, the sacred town of ancient Macedonia. Among the finds are the temples of Dimitra (goddess of agriculture) and the Egyptian goddess Isis, as well as a Greek and a Roman theatre.

The town of Litohoro with its traditional style and atmosphere, and the houses of traditional Macedonian architectural style, the Municipal Park "Katounia" and the picturesque country churches will enchant the visitors. Also worth visiting is the area "Myli", the gorge of Enipeas River and the fir-tree forest of Ai Yiannis with the church in honour of Saint John.

The village Paralia attracts many tourists, offering an excellent beach and an intense nightlife.

Close by, is the well-known vacation resort of Platamonas, surrounded by verdant green vegetation that covers the terrain until the very beginning of the beaches with the crystal-clear waters. You should also visit the picturesque traditional settlement of Palios Panteleimonas, built on the mountain, and enjoy the enchanting view. Between Platamonas and the beach of Agios Panteleimonas is situated the well-preserved Venetian Castle of the 11th century, where many cultural events take place during the summer months.

A graveyard of the Late Bronze period has been unearthed in the area of Agios Dimitrios. Other poles of attraction in the area are the impressive gorge of Olympus and the drive to the Petra Narrows. In Leptokarya can be seen the ruins of an early-Christian Basilica, and a prehistoric settlement has been discovered in Makriyalos. South of Makriyalos, archaeological digs have unearthed the ruins of the ancient city of Pydna. In Skotina, visit the post-Byzantine churches of Christ, Kimissi Theotokou (Dormition of Virgin Mary) and the church of Agios (St.) Athanassios decorated by excellent murals.

The Estuary of Aliakmonas River and the areas Alyki Kitrous and Nei Pori are three wetland habitats of great ecological importance, as they are home to rare species of flora and fauna.

During the wintertime escape to the mountain regions of the prefecture, exploring the verdant green natural environment with enchanting drives starting from the town of Litohoro at the foothills of Mount Olympus, and enjoy winter sports in the well-organized ski centre of Elatohori, on Pieria Mountains.

During the summer season, you can choose from a great number of beautiful beaches. Swim in the crystal clear waters of Paralia, Olympiaki Akti, Makriyalos, Platamonas, Paralia Panteleimona, and, also, the beach of Korinos, which has won many times the blue flag environmental award.

How you can get here:

By road:

By bus: There is frequent daily service with KTEL busses to and from Athens and Thessalonica.

By car: You can get to Pieria by car via the Athens-Thessalonica National Road.

The distance from Athens is 446 km.
The distance from Thessalonica is 101 km.
The distance from Patras is 426 km.
The distance from Ioannina is 297 km.

By train: There is frequent daily train service to and from Athens and Thessalonica.