Litochoro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Litochoro Λιτόχωρο
View from Olympus
Litochoro Location in Greece
Country	Greece
Geographic region	Macedonia
Administrative region	Central Macedonia
Regional unit	Pieria
Municipality	Dio-Olympos
Area
• Total	169.632 km2 (65.495 sq mi)
Elevation	293 m (961 ft)
Population  (2021)
• Total	6,889
• Density	40.6114/km2 (105.183/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	602 00
Area code(s)	23520
Vehicle registration	KN

Litochoro (pronounced Lee-toh-kho-roh) is a charming town in Greece. It's located in the southern part of the Pieria region in Macedonia. This town sits right at the base of the famous Mount Olympus. Mount Olympus is known in Greek myths as the home of the twelve gods. Litochoro is also on the western shore of the Thermaic Gulf, which is part of the Aegean Sea.

The first time Litochoro was mentioned in writing was in the 1500s. This was when Saint Dionysius visited Mount Olympus. Today, Litochoro is a very popular spot for people who want to climb Mount Olympus. Almost all climbing paths start from the area southwest of the town. A famous person from Litochoro was Christos Kakkalos. In 1913, he was the first person to climb Mount Olympus without help in modern times.

Exploring Litochoro's Location

Litochoro is found on the eastern slopes of Mount Olympus. This mountain is famous for being the mythical home of the twelve gods of Olympus. The town is about 22 kilometers (14 miles) south of Katerini. It is also 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of Thessaloniki.

Two important ancient places are close to Litochoro. Dion is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north. It has a large archaeological park and a museum. Leivithra is about 9 kilometers (6 miles) south. It features an acropolis and the Leivithra Park. The total area of Litochoro's municipal unit is about 169.6 square kilometers (65.5 square miles).

Pine, cedar, and fir trees cover the forests of Mount Olympus to the southwest and northwest. Much of the land around Litochoro, especially to the south, is natural and undeveloped. To the north, you will find more farmland. Litochoro also has many restaurants and cafeterias where you can enjoy local food.

Understanding Litochoro's Weather

Litochoro has a varied climate throughout the year. Summers are warm, and winters are cool. The area receives a good amount of rain, especially in the cooler months.

What Can You Find in Litochoro?

Alexandrion, a monument near town

The central square

The church of Agios Nikolaos

St Demetrius Church

A street view

The municipal school

Litochoro has many useful facilities for its residents and visitors. You can find schools, banks, and a post office. The town also has a harbour, a sports centre, and a town hall. There is a hospital, a museum, and a concert hall. You can also find a gym, various shops, and pleasant town squares.

The town has two main churches. One is Agios Nikolaos, located in the town center. The other is Agios Dimitrios, found in the northern part of Litochoro. Litochoro is also home to one of Greece's most traditional cemeteries, called Agios Athanasios. It is located in the north of the town.

Exciting Places to Visit

Limenas (port) of Litochoro

Olympus National Park Information Center This center is a great place to start your visit to Mount Olympus National Park. It provides important details about the park's geology and ancient sites. You can also learn about the mythology, monasteries, plants, and animals of Mount Olympus.

Alexandrion (Litochoro) The Alexandreion is an impressive building located near the highway (GR-1/E75). It is a monument dedicated to Alexander the Great. Visitors can learn about his life and his famous military journeys here.

The Nautical Museum You can find the Nautical Museum of Litochoro at Agios Nikolaou 15. Even though it's a small town, Litochoro has a long and interesting maritime history. The museum shares this story with its visitors.

The Old Monastery Agios Dionysios High up at 850 meters (2,789 feet), next to the Enipeas gorge, is where Saint Dionysios built a monastery. It was founded in 1542 and was first called Agia Triada, meaning Holy Trinity. Later, its name changed to honor the saint. This monastery was attacked and burned many times. German troops finally destroyed it in April 1943.

The New Monastery Agios Dionysios After the old monastery was destroyed, the monks moved. They went to the Metochion, which is about three kilometers (1.9 miles) outside the village. This new location became their new monastery.

Coastal Areas Near Litochoro

Pláka Beach Area

An extended coastal area known as Pláka or Pláka Litochorou is located east of Litochoro. It stretches from the foot of Olympus down to the Thermaic Gulf. This area goes from Leptokarya in the south to Gritsa in the north. The E75 highway passes through Plaka, south of Litochoro.

The coast here has many sandy beaches. You can find seaside resorts, hotels, and campsites. There are also restaurants and beach bars, which are usually open during the summer (June to September). Plaka also has private homes, fancy villas, and cottages.

Gritsa Beach Area

North-east of Litochoro, and north of Pláka, is another coastal area called Gritsa or Limenas Litochorou. It extends from Pláka in the south to the community of Variko in the north. Gritsa also has sandy beaches, but there are fewer tourist facilities than in Pláka. However, you can find some cottages and a luxury hotel called Dion Resort. Gritsa is also the port for Litochoro, though it is a smaller port.

Getting Around Litochoro

View of the peaks of Mount Olympus from Litochoro

Since the 1960s, Litochoro has been connected to the main GR-1/E75 highway. This highway is to its east. In the mid-1990s, parts of this road from Athens to Thessaloniki were made into a motorway. Litochoro is on the northern part of this six-lane highway, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Thessaloniki. The closest beach is 5 kilometers (3 miles) to the east.

There are regular bus services to Katerini. A local train service runs about every two hours in each direction. You can take the train to Thessaloniki and Larissa. In Larissa, you can connect to the main train line to Athens. The Litochoro railway station is about 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the town. Because of this, many people take the bus to Katerini and catch the train from there instead. Taxis are also easy to find in Litochoro.

• Litochoro gained some attention during the 1999 NATO war in Yugoslavia. Allied naval forces arrived on the beach of Gritsa. This event caused a reaction from the town's people, who did not agree with the intervention. The event was shown live on CNN International.

How Litochoro's Population Has Changed

See also

In Spanish: Litóchoro para niños