ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS
The county of Pieria is an area rich in attractions of great historical and archaeological interest to the visitor.
These attractions range from the wealth of findings at the Neolithic Settlement in Makrigialos through the remains of Pydna to the ruins of the City of Dion and the Castle at Platamonas. Monasteries and Churches are to be found in abundance, bearing witness to the extensive history of our area. The farmer's plough is constantly bringing new discoveries to the surface in this part of the world.
These attractions range from the wealth of findings at the Neolithic Settlement in Makrigialos through the remains of Pydna to the ruins of the City of Dion and the Castle at Platamonas. Monasteries and Churches are to be found in abundance, bearing witness to the extensive history of our area. The farmer's plough is constantly bringing new discoveries to the surface in this part of the world.
ANCIENT DION
On the slopes of Olympus, a mere 5 km from the beaches of Pieria, Ancient Dion, the Holy City of Macedonia was found under a covering of undergrowth and water. This city had been a thriving centre of civilization from the time of its foundation for a period of 1,000 years from the 5th c, BC to the 5th c, AD.
We learn from Ancient Greek writers that the Macedonians regularly gathered in Dion to worship the Gods of Olympus, and to make sacrificial offerings, as can be seen from the objects found on the site. It was here that King Archelaos organized athletic competitions and theatrical events, and Philip the Second celebrated his victories at Dion, as did Alexander. It was here that Alexander gathered together his troops to prepare for his journeys of conquest, worshipping Zeus, King of the Gods of Olympus. In the temple of the Gods of Olympus was a magnificent bronze statue created by Lissippos, which depicted the 25 horsemen who died at the Battle of Granikos. During the reign of Philip the 5th after a disastrous invasion, the Aetolians ransacked the city. At the Battle of Pydna, 168 BC, the death of Perseas, last King of Macedonia, brought an end to the Macedonian Dynasty. Dion became integrated into the Roman colony during the reign of Augustus.
The second peak of the city came during the Roman occupation in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, when it became "reborn" as a Greek city. The final days of Dion were written when it was destroyed by an earthquake and floods in the 5th c AD. The terrified citizens of the city took flight and sought refuge on the higher slopes of Olympus.
The Holy City of the Macedonians collapsed and its ruins lay beneath the soil of the Macedonian earth.
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ANCIENT PYDNA
On the West Coast of the Thermaic Gulf, one kilometer to the south of Makrigialos you can find the ruins of the Byzantine Castle of the Bishop of Kitros. These ruins, together with the western gate of the Castle (opposite the Church), the foundations of an inn, baths and a small single chamber temple were uncovered during the period 1983 - 1992 whilst the site was being excavated by the Society of Byzantine Antiquities of Thessaloniki. These are the only visible remains left today of Byzantine Pydna, which was renamed Kitros in the 6th or 7th and century and was, until the 14th century, the most important city in medieval Pieria.
Inside the Castle two old Christian Basilicas dating from the 4th and 6th century are located, the last of which was destroyed in the Bulgarian occupation of the fortress, an event which took place from 913 - 924. At the end of the 10th century a large scale Church was built with a dome and cloister, 23.20 m. by 16.60 m., decorated with mosaics, wall paintings and some remarkable sculptures, and this must have been the Cathedral Church of Kitros.
Kitros was the seat of the local administrator (an administrative sub-division of the Byzantine Empire) answerable to the regional administration in Veria, and during the 11th and 12th century was the center of production for tiles and also a busy trading port. Evidence for this has been provided by the uncovering of a ceramic factory complete with furnace and a 12th century inn, along with its baths, in the port area. Pydna's commanding position came to an end with the arrival of the Franks in 1204, as can be seen from the objects unearthed from in front of the Castle showing the effects of the siege and the burning and plundering of the entire habitation.
After the burning of the Cathedral the community built two small single room shrines in the area near the port, next to the inn. Outside and roundabout the area a cemetery containing graves and tombs with tiled roofs have been dug up. In 1343, during the civil war between Ioannis Palaeologos and the claimant to the throne, Ioannis Kantakouzinos, the castle was besieged and captured by the soldiers of the rightful Emperor Ioannis Apokafko, and in the autumn of the same year by the Turkish Admiral, Amour.
At the end of the 15th century the site was abandoned because of continual attacks by pirates, and the inhabitants moved to the site of present day Kitros.
ANCIENT PYDNA
On the West Coast of the Thermaic Gulf, one kilometer to the south of Makrigialos you can find the ruins of the Byzantine Castle of the Bishop of Kitros. These ruins, together with the western gate of the Castle (opposite the Church), the foundations of an inn, baths and a small single chamber temple were uncovered during the period 1983 - 1992 whilst the site was being excavated by the Society of Byzantine Antiquities of Thessaloniki. These are the only visible remains left today of Byzantine Pydna, which was renamed Kitros in the 6th or 7th and century and was, until the 14th century, the most important city in medieval Pieria.
Inside the Castle two old Christian Basilicas dating from the 4th and 6th century are located, the last of which was destroyed in the Bulgarian occupation of the fortress, an event which took place from 913 - 924. At the end of the 10th century a large scale Church was built with a dome and cloister, 23.20 m. by 16.60 m., decorated with mosaics, wall paintings and some remarkable sculptures, and this must have been the Cathedral Church of Kitros.
Kitros was the seat of the local administrator (an administrative sub-division of the Byzantine Empire) answerable to the regional administration in Veria, and during the 11th and 12th century was the center of production for tiles and also a busy trading port. Evidence for this has been provided by the uncovering of a ceramic factory complete with furnace and a 12th century inn, along with its baths, in the port area. Pydna's commanding position came to an end with the arrival of the Franks in 1204, as can be seen from the objects unearthed from in front of the Castle showing the effects of the siege and the burning and plundering of the entire habitation.
After the burning of the Cathedral the community built two small single room shrines in the area near the port, next to the inn. Outside and roundabout the area a cemetery containing graves and tombs with tiled roofs have been dug up. In 1343, during the civil war between Ioannis Palaeologos and the claimant to the throne, Ioannis Kantakouzinos, the castle was besieged and captured by the soldiers of the rightful Emperor Ioannis Apokafko, and in the autumn of the same year by the Turkish Admiral, Amour.
At the end of the 15th century the site was abandoned because of continual attacks by pirates, and the inhabitants moved to the site of present day Kitros.
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THE NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT AT MAKRIGIALOS
To the west of Ancient Pydna and the South west of present day Makrigialos lies one of the largest pre-historic settlements in Greece. It came to light as the result of excavations carried out by the 16th Society for Prehistoric and Classical Studies, which began in 1992. The site was excavated over an area of 60 sq km, though it is estimated that the area of the settlement covered something like 500 sq. km. It included dwellings and land under cultivation, and artifacts such as clay pots, stone tools from a wide range of materials and small utensils were found. Idols made of clay and marble also came to light, as did the charred remains of seeds and a plethora of animal bones.
THE NEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT AT MAKRIGIALOS
To the west of Ancient Pydna and the South west of present day Makrigialos lies one of the largest pre-historic settlements in Greece. It came to light as the result of excavations carried out by the 16th Society for Prehistoric and Classical Studies, which began in 1992. The site was excavated over an area of 60 sq km, though it is estimated that the area of the settlement covered something like 500 sq. km. It included dwellings and land under cultivation, and artifacts such as clay pots, stone tools from a wide range of materials and small utensils were found. Idols made of clay and marble also came to light, as did the charred remains of seeds and a plethora of animal bones.
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BYZANTINE ANT POST BYZANTINE MONUMENTS
1.The Old Monastery of Agios Dionisios
2.The New Monastery of Agios Dionisios
3.The Monastery of Kanalon
4.The Monastery of the presentation of the virgin Mary - Petra
5.The church of the slumber of the virgin Mary - Kontariotissa
6.The Monastery of Agios Georgios - Ritini
7.The church of the holy Trinity - Vrondou
8.The church of Agios Nikolaos - Palea Vrondou
9.The church of Agia Paraskevi - Ano Milia
10.The church of Agios Athanasios - Ano Skotina
BYZANTINE ANT POST BYZANTINE MONUMENTS
1.The Old Monastery of Agios Dionisios
2.The New Monastery of Agios Dionisios
3.The Monastery of Kanalon
4.The Monastery of the presentation of the virgin Mary - Petra
5.The church of the slumber of the virgin Mary - Kontariotissa
6.The Monastery of Agios Georgios - Ritini
7.The church of the holy Trinity - Vrondou
8.The church of Agios Nikolaos - Palea Vrondou
9.The church of Agia Paraskevi - Ano Milia
10.The church of Agios Athanasios - Ano Skotina