St. George Monastery, Ritini

At an altitude of 550 meters in the Pieria Mountains, overlooking the plain of Katerinis and the high peaks of Olympus, the Thermaic Gulf, Halkidiki and the Aegean Sea, we find the village of Ritini. The historic settlement, which has been on the site since around 1600 AD, was to play a catalytic role in all the rebellions of the Greeks from the 18th century until the glorious entry of the Greek army in 1912. According to testimonies the Monastery of Agios Georgios in Ritini there was a gathering point for the Greek chieftains, as well as a hiding place during the Macedonian War.

The foundation of the monastery dates back to the post-Byzantine period, while its catholicon is decorated with important 14th and 16th century hagiographies. Essentially, the date of its foundation is determined based on a mural that was created in 1494 and is the oldest image in the whole of Pieria. In its premises there are also other frescoes dating from 1619.