MEET LEPTOKARYA
MEET LEPTOKARYA!
We are especially happy, to live and work in a place endowed by nature, historic and full of contrasts. A place where in the morning you can enjoy swimming on a magnificent beach and in the same evening feel the coolness of a mountain village, in a traditional tavern, while later you can have fun in a bustling or more relaxed bar, where people from different countries.
Welcome to Leptokarya – Pieria!
Leptokarya, is a coastal town, spread out in the shadow of Mount Olympus. The inhabitants are mainly engaged in tourism businesses and the cultivation of the Earth. It is one of the most touristic destinations during the summer months, gathering around 3,500 tourists. It also has one of the best seas in Greece, having been awarded the Blue Flag.
Historical facts
According to tradition, the place between Leptokarya and Skotina was the ancient Levithra. The tomb of Orpheus, which was off-limits to women for many centuries, may have been located in this area. This ancient city is also associated with the Dionysian cult, as the first Dionysian Festivals were held here. Traditions also state that the first inhabitants of Leptokarya, as the first settlement was called, came down from the mountains earlier than 1000 AD and were forced to leave their homes because of poisonous snakes. The second settlement was built further south than the first (it remained in the foothills) and, as demonstrated by the church of Agios Nikolaos, the new inhabitants were sailors. Also, in the second settlement the inhabitants came from the mountains, especially from Samarina, who joined the natives.
The monuments of Leptokarya are of interest, such as the Byzantine churches, the monastery of Panagia Kanaliotissa from the 11th century and others. In Palaia Leptokarya is the church of Agia Triada and in the cemeteries Agia Fotini. During the period of the Turkish occupation, it was the capital village and at the beginning of the twentieth century it had 1,200 Christian Orthodox inhabitants. It is mentioned in the same period as the writing Leptokaria. Its Primary School had 195 students and 3 teachers, based on data from 1934. (see Kaztaridis I., Katerini, from the small count to the multifaceted city, MATI publications).
The traveler Tozer mentions Leptokarya in his two-volume work Researches in the Highlands of Turkey (1869). Beyond the settlement he mentions that he found leptokaries “thin karies”, “from which he got his name, although now they do not exist at all within the area of the settlement. On the lower slopes, chestnuts of the Spanish type abound.” Also important is the information of the Greek traveler Schinas, in the second half of the 19th century, when the village was a capital village, with 130 Christian families.
At a privileged point of the coast of Pieria
Leptokarya is located at a focal point in the southern part of Pieria, close to large cities such as Larissa and Katerini, in famous gorges and valleys such as that of Tempe, next to castles such as that of Platamonas and towering mountains such as those of Olympus and Kissavos. Are you perhaps also looking for a ski resort for your winter holidays? You will find this in Olympus too!
Having a privileged position next to the national highway Athens – Thessaloniki, it is easily accessible from the North and the South.
So by combining all the above, you can imagine why Leptokarya and Pieria in general, is an ideal destination for the Summer as well as for the Winter!
In the shadow of Olympus
Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, known worldwide mainly for its mythological context, as at its peak (Mytikas, altitude 2,918 meters) lived the Twelve “Olympic” Gods according to the religion of the ancient Greeks. It is also the second highest mountain in the Balkans. Its solid mountain mass is located on the border of Thessaly with Macedonia, a series of high peaks that groove deep ravines, around which stretches an area of special biodiversity. To protect the area, it was declared in 1938 as the first National Park of Greece, while later the Ministry of Culture declared Olympus as an archaeological and historical site due to its scattered monuments.
The foothills of Mount Olympus are easily accessible, mainly from the popular Litochoro which is also considered as the gateway to Mount Olympus, while some other picturesque villages of Mount Olympus are Paleos Panteleimonas, Ano Skotina, and ancient Dion, all easily and quickly accessible from Leptokarya .
The visitor can also visit the peak of Olympus, Mytika, and the National Forest of Olympus which is full of gorges and streams, as well as impressive fauna.
Choose Leptokarya for your holidays!
For what we have mentioned above, but also for thousands more reasons that do not fit in the limited space of an article, we invite you to choose the place where we grew up and love, for your rest and your holidays. All of us at Kathy Rooms we promise you, that we will take care every moment for your excellent accommodation, so that you can fully enjoy this wonderful destination!
We are waiting for you!
