Guide of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace

The Municipality of Pieria has a population of 5,002 inhabitants and covers an area of 143 km2. The Municipality includes the Municipal districts of Moustheni, Avli, Domatia, Melissokomio, Mesia, Mesoropi, Platanotopos ans Siderochori. The Municipality of Pieria extends at a mountainous and semi-mountainous area including part of Mount Pangaion and the valley of Pieria. Agriculture, livestock farming and apiculture are the main occupations of the inhabitants. There are also specialized enterprises for drying, processing and packaging of agricultural products.
All the settlements and especially those of Mesoropi, Moustheni, Domatia and Avli have a rich historic background that originates from antiquity. The gods Dionysus and Apollo were worshipped in Mount Pangaion, which was also the place where the Nymphs and the Satyrs lived. Thucydides also lived in the same mountain, where he wrote the history of the Peloponnesian war. Many of the manners and customs still preserved in these settlements have many elements that derive from relevant ancient customs.
There are several cultural societies in the Municipality concerned with the collection and preservation of traditional vessels, tools and costumes; a museum of Folklore art is now under construction to house all the collected items. The development of tourism has already begun with the creation of a forest village at the slopes of Mount Pangaion, over the village of Moustheni, as well as the construction of rent rooms, also at the slopes of Mount Pangaion, over Mesoropi. The creation of a nucleus for the promotion of air sports is under construction; a takeoff surface has been constructed for microlight aircrafts. Mount Pangaion has been added to the European Union Natura programme and the Natura network trekking path (E4) passes through the settlement of Avli. In the last years, several mountain refuges are in operation at the top of Mount Pangaion. The area is waiting to reveal its beauties to visitors.