Катерини: Город у подножия Олимпа и центр региона Пиерия

City in Macedonia, Greece

Katerini (Κατερίνη, Kateríni, ) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of Pieria regional unit in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The municipality of Katerini has a population of 82,892 (according to the 2021 census) Peristasi are visited by both Greek and foreign tourists during the summer season. The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro, are at a distance of around 20 km from the center of Katerini, whereas there is the ski center of Elatochori in Mount Pieria at a distance of 33.4 km from the city's center.

Katerini is located near several villages which are renowned for their high quality products, specifically kiwis, wines, cherries, are one of the more important productions in the region, as well as strawberries, apples, olives, olive oil, truffle oil, truffles, mushrooms, grapes, mineral water, herbs with the most well known the sideritis scardica locally known as "Tea of Olympus", honey and honey products (propolis, royal jelly, beeswax ointment, bee pollen), dairy products (milk, butter, kefir, yogurt), cheese (feta, kasseri, manouri, anthotyros, kefalotyri, mizithra), chickens (meat, eggs), black pigs (meat, cured meat, sausages). Katerini Steppe Cattle originates from Katerini, which is Greek steppe breed belonging to the Podolian cattle at high risk of extinction, well known for its meat and milk, found now in the region of Thessaly. The cuisine of Katerini is the Greece's Macedonian cuisine, as well as seafood comes mainly from the seaport of Paralia.

Katerini is the administrative and economic center of Pieria. In 2022 it joined the EU Smart Tourism Destinations Project for smart tourism aims to promote sustainable development practices and access to tourism and hospitality through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with the collaboration of other EU selected destinations. Katerini has received a gold award of Circular Economy and a silver award of Environmental Excellence to Local Authorities at the Environmental Awards 2022 at Hellenic Foundation for Culture on 28 September 2022. It is the first one municipality in Greece in which the pilot implementation of the Platform SMARTREC for the recycling of cooking oil taking place in collaboration with the International Hellenic University, as well as participates in the European program "LIFE IP AdaptInGR – Boosting the implementation of adaptation policy across Greece" (2019–2026) for the adaptation to the effects of climate change, led by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. In Katerini, there are based the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Pieria, Agios Modestos Sheep Goat Farmers Association of Pieria, Consortium of Agricultural Tobacco Cooperatives of Pieria, Pieria Hoteliers Association, Federation of Letting Rooms and Accommodations of Pieria, Imathia, Pella (OEDDPIP), Travel Agents Association of Pieria. Every year it operates the Trade Craft Exhibition Activity of Pieria & Central Makedonia (EBEP KM) taking place at the exhibition area of the Municipality of Katerini in the Andromachi settlement.

Katerini lies in the middle of a plain and thus, it is greatly an agricultural city. As of 2000, 26,775 people were occupied in agriculture, in Pieria. There is cultivation of tobacco in the region and lot of people spend considerable resources for its development and for exports of the product. The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria has 9,000 members, of which 2,000 grow tobacco. Katerini and Pieria the area in Greece where kiwi fruit products were cultivated in 1973at the initiative of Tasos Michos who was application agronomist at Pieria Directorate of Agriculture. Aktinidio Pierias (Kiwi of Pieria) cultivates in Pieria and is the specific type of kiwi (part of Hayward variety) registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product with the awarding of certification on 22 November 2002.

Katerini is a popular tourist destination, that attracts visitors from Greece and abroad. Within the boundaries of the municipality, there are seasonal and all year round over 230 hotels, that can accommodate more than 8,600 people, short term rental accommodatios, and tourist accommodations. The vast majority of the tourist infrastructure lie in Paralia and Olympiaki Akti, at where linking between them with road, sidewalk and bicycle lane, including tens of tavernas, and cafes. Winter tourism has started developing in the area with the Elatochori ski resort. Katerini is surrounded by ancient archaeological sites as Dion, Leivithra, Pydna, Louloudies and Platamon Castle. The Mount Olympus is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designated in 1981 where there is the Olympus National Woodland Park one of the National parks of Greece for visits and sports activities.

The national bus lines service is provided by the KTEL Pieria station for intercity buses (coach) located in Katerini. The local bus lines between Katerini and its nearby settlements are served by the urban buses of the KTEL Katerini, which has lines towards Ano Agios Ioannis, Aronas, Dion, Moschochori, Olympiaki Akti, Paralia, Palaio Keramidi, Neo Nosokomeio (New General Hospital of Katerini), Nea Trapezounta, Vrontou. These routes serve all the settlements that lie between Katerini and the aforementioned final destinations. The connection between Katerini and Elassona is served by National Road 13. Single carriageways run from Katerini to every settlement of the Pieria. Intercity bus routes delivered by the KTEL Pieria, It is also connected with Athens and all the intermediate stations by Intercity train routes.

Katerini is represented by two football teams in the national leagues; Pierikos, has its home stadium named 1st Municipal Athletic Center of Katerini, a club currently playing in the Gamma Ethniki (Third National) category, and the women's football club of Pierides Muses, playing in the Women's Gamma Ethniki category.