Pieria is a place that has it all. An extensive coastline, a remarkable archaeological site, abundant greenery and picturesque villages with splendid views of Mount Olympus, mountain of the gods, and the Aegean Sea. Ano Skotina is also perhaps the village that best embodies Pieria’s timeless charm.
The name Skotina refers to three distinct settlements. We’ll save Paralia Skotina, a popular holiday resort, for another time and focus on the main settlement of Skotina, which is built on the lower slopes of Mount Olympus at 200 metres, and Ano Skotina, is located seven kilometres away from the main village and has a small number of permanent residents, pure air, and plenty of greenery. Palia Skotina, built at an altitude of 700 metres, was abandoned by its last permanent residents in the 1970s. This was not the first time the inhabitants of Skotina had left their village, as the original village was located in the Kalambaka region, later moving to another location on the border of Pieria-Thessaly before eventually settling in Ano or Palia Skotina, before finally moving to its current position.
Ano Skotina is said to have been built by craftsmen from Epirus who travelled across continental Greece, also creating the beautiful stone houses that are so broadly admired in many parts of mountainous and semi-mountainous Greece.
Some of these houses have been beautifully restored, breathing new life into the village thanks to tourism. As you walk through its narrow streets, you’ll feel the unique aura of a place that has experienced periods of both prosperity and decline. Don’t expect crowds, even during the summer season. Ano Skotina attracts more visitors during the festival of the village’s large church on August 15th.
A notable architectural trademark of the village is the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, a three-aisled basilica with a women’s gallery, dating back to 1862. The church was built thanks to Patriarch Callinicus of Alexandria, who originated from Skotina and is honoured with a bust nearby. Close to the church is a magnificent ancient plane tree, its hollow trunk large enough to resemble a doorway, along with another church, the Church of Saint Athanasius, which you’ll be lucky to find open to admire its exceptional frescoes.
In Ano Skotina, you’ll only find one inn with a taverna. This isn’t a place for those seeking glamorous activities, but it’s worth stopping in to admire the breathtaking views, whether towards the peaks of Mount Olympus or the shores of the Thermaic Gulf. The broader area around it is also a great place to enjoy activities like hiking, mountain biking, or even off-road driving.
How to Get There
Ano Skotina is 406 kilometres from Athens, 112 kilometres from Thessaloniki, and 44 kilometres from Pieria.
Palaios Panteleimonas is arguably the most picturesque mountain village in the area and the most developed in terms of tourism, serving as a “balcony” that overlooks Mount Olympus. It’s a designated traditional settlement that looks like a movie set and was one of the filming locations for acclaimed Greek director Theodoros Angelopoulos’s film “Alexander the Great“.
Even on a short trip to the area, make sure you visit to the archaeological park in Dion, a magnificent site excavated and brought to light by the late archaeologist and later head of the Acropolis Museum Dimitris Pandermalis.
Don’t Miss
Another place well worth visiting is the Orlias stream and waterfalls. Unlike most similar natural attractions, access here is very easy, but the landscape is equally impressive. In summer, you can even take a refreshing dip here.
A delicious local snack to try is the chestnut spoon sweet chestnut, recommended even if you’re not a big fan of syrupy sweets.
The tsipouro produced at the foothills of Mount Olympus is also excellent. It’s made from hawthorn berries and uniquely distilled in May instead of autumn.
Read also:
Limni: The Evia Town with a Cosmopolitan Aura
