Karakoli, Petra, Olympus

Karakoli, also known as the small kingdom of Petra, was built on the southeast side of a large rock in the Straits of Petra, near the stream Itamos (also known as Agioneri).

The old Municipality of Petra, which joined the Municipality of Katerinis with the plan of Kallikratis, took its name from the ancient city of Petra and its fortress. The fortress was located on the south-eastern side of a large rock in the Straits of Petra, below the current site of “Karakoli” and near the stream of Itamos. This site commanded the road built by Xerxes for the passage of Persian troops from Macedonia to Thessaly.

During the period of the Turkish occupation, the castle of Petra was repeatedly besieged by Turks and janissaries. The endurance and resistance of the inhabitants was remarkable, and the region remained independent. However, according to one version of the story, the fall of the castle was caused by treachery or by the entry of the Turks through a large aqueduct that supplied water to the castle from the river Itamos.