Archaeological Site of Aigai and The wider area of Mount Olympus starting at Vergína

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Archaeological Site of Aigai

   In 1977 the Greek archaeologist Manolis Andronikos lifted the stone slab of a vaulted tomb under a huge mound near the village of Vergina and found a gold casket holding the cremated bones of a man in his forties, with a golden wreath beside them. Most scholars now accept that it was Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, murdered in the theatre of the old capital in 336 BC. The mound, the Great Tumulus, is the centrepiece of Aigai, the first capital of Macedon, and today the royal tombs are displayed underground in a museum built inside the tumulus itself, in a half-light that makes the gold glow.

   Read the complete Archaeological Site of Aigai write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Archaeological Site of Aigai is where the day begins. Next is Archaeological site of Dion.

2. 2. Archaeological site of Dion

   Mount Olympus rises straight out of the plain behind Dion, and on a clear morning its snow-streaked summit seems close enough to touch. The ancient Macedonians built their most sacred city here, at the foot of the home of the gods, and the kings came to sacrifice to Zeus before going to war. Philip II celebrated victories here, and Alexander the Great is said to have held a great festival at Dion before setting out to conquer Persia. Walking among the ruins, you can see why they chose the place: water bubbles up everywhere, the plain is fertile, and the mountain looms like a living presence.

   Read the complete Archaeological site of Dion write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Archaeological site of Dion comes up about 70 km into the recorded legs. Next is The wider area of Mount Olympus.

3. 3. The wider area of Mount Olympus

   The gods chose well. Mount Olympus rises almost straight out of the Aegean, from sea level near Litochoro to 2,918 metres at Mytikas, its highest summit, in barely twenty kilometres, so that from the coast road it looks less like a mountain than a wall of grey rock and dark forest with clouds snagged on top. The ancient Greeks put their twelve Olympians up there, and on a stormy afternoon with thunder rolling around the peaks you can see why.

   Read the complete The wider area of Mount Olympus write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 96 km into the recorded legs you reach The wider area of Mount Olympus. Next is back through Archaeological site of Dion.

4. 4. back through Archaeological site of Dion

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Archaeological site of Dion write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Archaeological site of Dion, late in the day. Next is Archaeological Site of Aigai.

5. 5. Archaeological Site of Aigai

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Archaeological Site of Aigai write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Archaeological Site of Aigai. That is the ride.