Pieria

Geographical situation in Europe and Country

Pieria is one of the 52 prefectures (including the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain-Athos) of Greece. The territorial level according to EU classification is NUTS III (Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics).

Pieria, as the whole country of Greece, is placed in the south part of the Aimos peninsula, known also as the Balkan peninsula. Pieria is one of the seven prefectures that consist the Region of Central Macedonia and is located in the southern part of Macedonia.

Pieria Prefecture-part of Central Macedonia Region, is covering an area of 1.516 square kilometres, 1,15% of the country‘s total area. The actual population of Pieria is reaching 128.950 inhabitants (2001), 6,9% of the region population and 1,2% of the country population.

Pieria Prefecture is consisted of 13 municipalities. The main municipality is Katerini (capital of the Prefecture), where 44,27% (2001) of the prefecture citizenship is gathered (57.098 citizens). Along the South to North axis of the prefecture, the main motorway and railway of the country pass through, connecting Athens to Thessaloniki.

The Pieria prefecture combines a mediterranean bas-relief, starting from a mountainous area (Olympus, Titaros, Pieria) which covers the 60% of the prefecture area, leading to flat country (40%) and to gulf Thermaikos. The length of the coast-line reaches 80 kilometres.

Prefecture and City History

Pieria is an area rich in attractions of great historical and archaeological interest. 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 the area.

The name Pieria originates from the ancient tribe and the ancient country of Pieris. In Pieria, there are many sites of archeological interest, such as Dion, Pydna and Platamonas. Pieria is also home to Mt. Pieria, home to Orpheus and the Muses, as well as the Pierian Spring. Mt. Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece and throne of the ancient Greek gods, is towering at the south side of Pieria. The Pierian Mountains lie to the west.

The capital city-Katerini was established, more possibly, during the Ottoman empire. The popular name of Katerini dominated instead of the literary Aikaterini. Felix Beaujour, that visited the city in the end of the 18th century, points that Katerini was named KATHERI and from that it is concluded that it is the ancient city of HATERA. At this era the inhabitants were 4-5 thousands, and most of them were Greek. Another version is that Katerini is named after a small chapel of Saint Aikaterini.During the Ottoman empire, Katerini’s area was a regional authority, with Katerini as the capital. Pieria, along with the city of Katerini, was liberated by the Ottoman rule during the first Balkan War (1912-1913).The city of Katerini was then a capital of a district, belonging to Thessalonica, until 1949. Then it became the capital of the newly constituted prefecture of Pieria. Since 1950, when Katerini became a prefectural and regional centre, the urban development starts along with the quick spread of the town.