Olinthos: Ancient Traces and Regional Olives

Olinthos offers two distinct themes to explore when planning your trip: regional produce and historical sites in the surrounding area. Olives and olive oil from Olynthos are among the regional products of the Municipality of Polygyros. The nearby archaeological site of Ancient Olynthos and the Tower of Marianas add ancient visual art and Byzantine history to the picture of the area.

Ancient Mosaics and a Digital Tour

The archaeological site of Ancient Olynthos lies nearby. Some houses in the ancient city had mosaic floors with figurative depictions, which rank among the oldest known in the ancient Greek world. “Figurative” describes a style of depiction featuring recognisable figures, making the mosaics a tangible point of interest if you are interested in ancient visual art. This lets you explore a major historical theme through a vivid detail.

A digital guide for mobile devices complements the tour of the site with augmented reality applications, additional information and digital reconstructions. For families, the difference between archaeological evidence and a digital reconstruction can become a topic for discussion: What has been passed down to us, and what is digitally reconstructed? This connects historical details with an accessible question that requires no prior knowledge of art history.

The Tower of Marianas and Its History

The Tower of Marianas is also nearby, about 4 km from the modern village of Olynthos. In Byzantine times, a village of the same name stood there. At the end of the 14th century, the area became the property of the Dochiariou Monastery on Mount Athos, which built the tower around 1375. Today, it survives in fragmentary form and stands about 15 m tall. The distance of about 4 km locates the tower in relation to the modern village; the history of the village of the same name and the monastery provides a separate historical context.

Visits are not possible until the site has been restored. Bear this restriction in mind if you are planning to include the Tower of Marianas in your trip.

Olives and Olive Oil as Regional Specialties

Olives and olive oil from Olynthos are among the regional products of the Municipality of Polygyros. This adds a connection to regional food products to the historical themes. If you are also interested in the origins of regional products while on holiday, this offers another perspective on Olinthos. It differs from the archaeological visual art and Byzantine history, but can be combined with both to create a varied impression of the destination.

Choose a Holiday Apartment to Suit Your Plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Olinthos, it is worth first considering which themes you want to shape your stay. Would you like to focus mainly on historical sites nearby, or are regional products also among your travel interests?

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Ormos Panagias, Vatopedi, Kassandra, Pefkochori, Agios Mamas, Néa Fókaia, Paralia Dionysiou, Ouranoupoli.

For the broader travel overview: Chalkidiki.