Archaeological Museum of Dion

The Archaeological Museum of Dion, inaugurated in 1983, offers a thorough picture of the daily life and culture of the inhabitants of ancient Dion, from the Iron Age (1000-700 BC) to the early Christian centuries. The exhibits originate from the archaeological area of Dion and the wider area of Pieria. The three rooms of the museum feature grouped exhibits such as statues, tomb sculptures, architectural members, inscriptions, vessels, mosaics, coins and other items found mainly in the wider area of Dion. In the spacious ground floor, there are findings from the Roman baths and the sanctuaries of Demeter and Isis. The visitor can also admire an exquisite finding dating to the 1st century BC, a unique musical instrument of antiquity, the famous hydraulis (water organ) of Dion, brought to light during archaeological excavations in 1992. The bronze tubes of the instrument and the entire sound-producing system have survived.

Dion archaeological park

The archaeological site of Dion is one Greece’s most significant regions, as it is rich in antiquities, featuring streams gushing through ancient stones, a swift-water river Vafiras and lush vegetation with shady trees. A visit to the monumental ruins of Dion which belong to the Hellenistic,Roman and early Christian periods, is not only a visit to the historical past of a Macedonian city with an excellent, grid-like city plan of horizontal and vertical roads; it is also a trip of recreation through an archaeological park surrounded by natural beauty.

Archaeological site of Azoros

The excavations in Azoros began in October 1995. The wall, unearthed by the excavations, is one of a kind as polygonal stones were used for its construction. In the same spot, the tomb of a woman holding a baby was, also, discovered. Aside of tombs, other findings brought to light were public buildings and an important Byzantine cemetery with a cross-shaped church.  Kastri peak, just above the excavation area, was the acropolis of the ancient city. Two Paleo-Christian basilicas have been found, one at the acropolis of Agios Athanasios and the other, dating back to the 7th century, at Palaiokklisi.

Archaeological site of Pythio

Excavations in Pythio revealed the temple of Poseidon from the 4th century BC and various other religious areas in its vicinity. The headless statue of a man was also found, identified as that of the god Apollo, and archaeologists are now striving to discover his glorious temple.

Archaeological site of Spathes

A Copper Age (1300-1200 BC) cemetery was discovered just off of Agios Dimitrios, on the road to Elassona, on a wooded slope of Olympus (altitude 1100 m), at the “Spathes” site. The box-shaped graves brought to light vessels, swords and jewelry, with the characteristics of the Mycenaean civilization, which means either that the region was at some point inhabited by Mycenaeans or that its prehistoric inhabitants had trade relations with southern Greece. One of the swords is similar to the sword found in the Acropolis of Mycenae.

Azoros

Azoros is built at an altitude of 520m and is identified with ancient Azoros, one of the towns of the Perraivic Tripolitida. It was named after the helmsman of Argo, Azoros, who took part in the Argonautic expedition. During the years of Turkish rule, the village was a dependency of the Monastery of Olympiotissa.