To the North West of Olympus lies the mythical mountain range of Pieria. It has its own particular beauty and geomorphic quality, and the harmony of its outline so impressed the Ancient Greeks that they chose it as the embodiment of art and culture in the form of the Pierian Muses.
Traditional villages with their own particular architectural features such as Skoteina (Morna), Milies, Ritini, Elatochori, Riakia and Kolindros extend along the slopes of the Mountain, giving visitors the opportunity for excursions to a land of unusual natural beauty.Magnificent vistas, rich in colours, stretch for miles in every direction. The mountains and the sea act as a backdrop to this stunning scenery, set in the verdant hinterland of the county of Pieria.
Pieria is famous for its rich flora, notably its deciduous forests as well as its abundance of rare wild flowers. Mammals, birds, reptiles and a variety of insects, notably butterflies, provide the fauna of the region. It is covered by the EU regulations 92/43/EOK and it comes within the remit of the European Ecological order NATURE 2000 for Pieria, Code GR 1250002.
FLORA
Typical of the wealth of flora to be found on Pieria are the deciduous beech forests, and oak, chestnut, pine and fir. Plane trees, maple and osier create secluded groves alongside the banks of swift flowing streams. In addition to this, the wildlife to be found on neighbouring Olympus also graces this area. Pink anemones, wild carnation and strawberries, are among the rare species to be found here in their natural state.
FAUNA
The fauna of Pieria mainly consists of foxes, martens and ferrets, wolves, squirrels, wild boar, hare, small predatory birds, partridge, quail and other fowl. Reptiles make their home here, too. Snakes, lizards, tortoises, as well as crickets, cicadas, butterflies and other insects can be found. There is something magnificently inspirational in the sight of an eagle looking proudly at you as you round a corner, then watch it spread its wings and soar away disdainfully, rising on the current to the distant mountain peaks.
