New monastery of Agios Dionysios

To the north of Litochoro lies the new Monastery of Agios Dionysios, where the monks of the old monastery were transferred after the latter was blown up by the German occupation forces in 1943. The new Monastery, which used to be the dependency of the historic monastery, keeps the relics that were saved from the fire (manuscripts, icons, crosses, etc.).

Monastery of Agios Antonios | Kokkinogi

The post-Byzantine Monastery of Agios Antonios tis Kokkinogis was built in 1755. The buildings around it are made of stone and there is a unique underground hideout under the church.

Monastery of Agioi Theodoroi

One of the loveliest jewels of Rapsani is the forest and monastery of Agioi Theodoroi, situated across from the village at a distance of about 3km. The Monastery – founded on 10 October 1778 – is built exclusively of hewed stone, and its roof is made of hewed slate. It is a one-aisled cruciform church with dome, with walls up to 80cm thick. The interior of the church is covered in murals from the 18th century.

Kanalon monastery

Kanalon Monastery is in a panoramic location on the south-east side of Olympus and is only 6km from Karya village. Its name derives from the four streams/canals, whose springs were near the monastery and all together formed the river Ziliana. The monastery is framed by dense woods with fir trees, stone pines and oak trees. The monastery was in ruins and its cells deserted until September 2001, when its renovation work was completed and nuns reopened its doors to the public. Inside the churchyard is the chapel of Agios Dimitrios from 1681 with beautiful murals. Its katholikon, dedicated to the Birth of the Virgin Mary, is a three-aisled dome-covered church that was rebuilt in 1883.

Monastery of Panagia Olympiotissa

The Holy Monastery of Olympiotissa is considered one of the largest monastic complexes in Thessaly. The monastery’s katholikon is a four-column church in honour of the Virgin Mary. It was founded in the 14th century. The murals were also crafted at that time, but were restored in 1643.

Monastery of Petra

After Fotina, a junction on the national highway leads to the Monastery of Petra and to the village named after it. From the old monastery, the only surviving part is that of the church, which was built in 1754 with materials taken from an older Byzantine building. There were contemporary additions to the monastery, a building that has served as a sanatorium before the war and a mental care home up until the end of the 20th century.
The beautiful village of Petra is a starting point for those ascending the northern peaks of Olympus and has guest-houses and taverns. After Petra, the road leads to the mountain village of Kokinopilos, located on the side of Olympos that is overlooking Thessaly.