Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain and the mythical home of the Twelve Olympian Gods, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural heritage site. The designation recognizes both the mountain’s outstanding cultural significance and its exceptional natural value.
Rising 2,918 metres above sea level and located close to the coast of the Aegean Sea, Mount Olympus is a unique biodiversity hotspot. Its dramatic landscapes and diverse ecosystems are home to an exceptionally rich flora, including many endemic species found nowhere else in the world, as well as a wide variety of wildlife.
But Mount Olympus is much more than a remarkable natural landscape. Deeply rooted in Greek mythology, the mountain has inspired literature, art, philosophy, and culture for thousands of years. At its foothills lies the ancient city of Dion, the sacred city dedicated to Zeus and the Olympian gods, adding yet another fascinating dimension to the region’s rich cultural heritage.
UNESCO’s new recognition invites travellers to discover a different side of Greece, where spectacular nature, ancient history, and timeless mythology come together in one legendary destination.