Platamonas
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Platamon, or Platamonas (, ''Platamónas''), is a town and sea-side resort in south Pieria,
Central Macedonia Central Macedonia ( ; , ) is one of the thirteen Regions of Greece, administrative regions of Greece, consisting the central part of the Geographic regions of Greece, geographical and historical region of Macedonia (Greece), Macedonia. With a ...
,
Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
. Platamon has a population of about 2,000 permanent inhabitants. It is part of the Municipal unit of East Olympos of the Dio-Olympos municipality.


History

The ancient settlement Herakleion was situated near the present town Platamon. In 169 BC. the Romans took their military camp on the plain between Herakleion and ancient
Leivithra Leibethra or Libethra, in the modern pronunciation Leivithra (), was an ancient Macedonian city at the foot of Mount Olympus, near the present settlement of Skotina. Archaeologists have discovered tombs there from the late Bronze Age (13th–12t ...
to start their campaign against Macedonia. Its most famous landmark is the 13th century Byzantine Castle of Platamon, built strategically along the main road from
Thessaly Thessaly ( ; ; ancient Aeolic Greek#Thessalian, Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic regions of Greece, geographic and modern administrative regions of Greece, administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient Thessaly, a ...
to
Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...
through the
Vale of Tempe The Vale of Tempe or Tembi (; ; ) is a gorge in the Tempi municipality of northern Thessaly, Greece, located between Olympus to the north and Ossa to the south, and between the regions of Thessaly and Macedonia. The gorge was known to the Byz ...
.


Geography

Platamon is situated on the
Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It is located between the Balkans and Anatolia, and covers an area of some . In the north, the Aegean is connected to the Marmara Sea, which in turn con ...
coast, 25 km southeast of
Mount Olympus Mount Olympus (, , ) is an extensive massif near the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia (Greece), Macedonia, between the regional units of Larissa (regional unit), Larissa and Pieria (regional ...
. Adjacent beach towns are Neoi Poroi to the southeast and Neos Panteleimonas to the northwest. It is 33 km south of
Katerini Katerini (, ''Kateríni'', ) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of Regional Unit of Piera in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude ...
and 43 km northeast of
Larissa Larissa (; , , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 148,562 in the city proper, according to the 2021 census. It is also the capital of the Larissa ...
. The town is well known for its vast natural springs and its therapeutic spas.


Tourism

Platamon is regarded as one of the most significant tourist destinations in Northern Greece. The town is home to numerous restaurants, cafeterias, hotels and camping resorts. Platamon is connected to the cities of
Katerini Katerini (, ''Kateríni'', ) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of Regional Unit of Piera in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude ...
and
Larissa Larissa (; , , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 148,562 in the city proper, according to the 2021 census. It is also the capital of the Larissa ...
through the bus and fast railway transportation system. Platamon is on the European route E 75 which is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe. The E 75 starts at the town of Vardø on the Barents Sea and it runs south through Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Greece. Platamon as a resort and fishing village have a great Marina - Port in the center of the Village. Αfter the completion of the infrastructural upgrades in spring of 2014, "Platamon Savvi Marine" provide more than 90 slips for vessels up to 65 ft as well as cruisers and megayachts. Being located in the heart of the resort, customers will have at their disposal all needed facilities such as public transport, hotels, rental agencies, medical offices and pharmacies, dry cleaners, super markets and many others. Marina provides customers the opportunity to take part in activities such as daily tours, water sports, fishing and diving, while being the starting place for trips in the great mountainous nature. Platamon, a graphic village easily accessible via highway and train station has a number of hotels, beach bars, taverns, restaurants, and cafes. Located in the foothills of mountain Olympus, and framed by the castle of Platamon it is a starting point for shorter excursions to Chalkidiki, Sporades islands (Skiathos, Skopelos, Allonisos etc. ) and the north aegean sea but also provides an anchorage for those who wish to visit the coast of Pieria and the nearby mountain destinations. During summertime the population reaches approximately 120,000 because of the number of visitors and tourists. A number of tourists come from eastern countries as well as from local Greek towns such as
Larissa Larissa (; , , ) is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 148,562 in the city proper, according to the 2021 census. It is also the capital of the Larissa ...
and
Katerini Katerini (, ''Kateríni'', ) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of Regional Unit of Piera in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude ...
.


Sports

Akadimia Platamona (Platamon Academy) is a
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
club, based in Platamon, Pieria. In 2012, the club were promoted to Football League 2 after finishing the champions of Group 3 of
Delta Ethniki Delta Ethniki () was the fourth level of Greek football championship. During the period of its existence, it was the lowest national division of the Greek championship. It was founded in the 1982–83 season and abolished in the 2012–13 season, ...
, the fourth tier of the
Greek football league system The Greek football league system consists of two professional leagues, one nationwide non-professional league and several regional non-professional leagues. Cup eligibility Greek Football Professional Cup: Levels 1 to 2 Greek Football Ama ...
. Eventually the small club decided that promotion to this level was a step too far and they cooperated with Aiginiakos who took over their place at the third level. Akadimia Platamona still exist having been demoted to the Local Championship of Pieria for the 2012/13 season. The club play their home matches at the Neoi Poroi Stadium in nearby Neoi Poroi.


Notable persons

* Matthias Laurenz Gräff (* 1984), Austrian painter, historian, political activist; lives in the town


References

{{Dio-Olympos div Populated places in Pieria (regional unit) Dion-Olympos Beaches of Greece Mount Olympus Landforms of Central Macedonia