Dion was sacred for ancient Macedonians worshipping the Olympian gods, especially Zeus. Before his epic eastern adventures, Alexander the Great made sacrifices here. A path leads through more than a dozen clearly labelled sites, including sacred springs and the ruins of a Roman theatre. This wooded area is also rich in wildlife: look out for frogs tumbling into often flooded sanctuaries and kingfishers diving with a sapphire flash.
The ruins of the 6th-century BC Sanctuary of Demeter are the first you'll see and are the site's oldest. Further along is the leafy Sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos , which bears copies of statues and column bases (the originals are in the on-site museum). Other replicas adorn the remnants of Dion’s (usually flooded) Sanctuary to Isis , goddess of childbirth, across a small bridge. As elsewhere in the Hellenistic world, worship of this Egyptian goddess was merged with that of Artemis and Aphrodite. Later constructions include 4th-century-AD Christian basilica ruins and public baths once paved with mosaics.
The park has a small visitors' centre with cafe. Entry includes the Archaeological Museum of Dion , a 10-minute walk from the site. Taxis from Litohoro to Dion cost from €12.
