The field trips are planned to take place on 23 and 24 September 2026.
City Walking Tour
Archaeological Sites and Landscapes of Northern Greece (Mount Olympus - Pieria - Vergina)
Mining Heritage and Mount Athos Coastal Cruise
Meteora UNESCO Global Geopark: Geology and Cultural Landscape
Date:
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Time:
18:00 - 20:30 (TBC)
Meeting Point:
Venue Entrance
Field Trip Leader
Prof. Paola Pretosino, Professor of Volcanology, University of Naples Federico II
Roads full of monuments. Monuments full of stories about emperors, gods and mortals, wars and disasters, victories and feasts. A city of many faces, sometimes with a friendly smile, sometimes with an introvert frown, and some other times with an awkward pose as she stands in front of her historical significance and glorious 23-century past.
We discover every period of Thessaloniki’s history-from Roman times to present day- through a kaleidoscope of monuments and landmarks that mark the ever-present timeline of a multicultural metropolis.
Points of interest: St. Demetrios Church, Roman Forum, Aristotelous Square, Venizelou Station (Metro), Bezesteni, Kapani, Louloudadika.
Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking and bring a light jacket/jumper, as weather and temperatures may vary during the tour.
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Departure from Thessaloniki |
| 09:30 | Arrival at Stratoniki / Stratoni mining district – overview of the Eldorado Gold mining area |
| 10:45 | Coffee break in Stratoni village |
| 11:15 | Departure for Ouranoupolis |
| 12:15 | Arrival at Ouranoupolis – lunch break / free time |
| 14:00 | Departure for Mount Athos coastal cruise |
| 14:00–17:00 | Cruise along the western coast of Mount Athos (view of monasteries) |
| 17:30 | Departure for Thessaloniki |
| 20:00 | Arrival in Thessalonikiing activity, and cultural heritage in one of Greece’s most distinctive regions. |
Date:
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Time:
07:30 - 19:00 (TBC)
Field Trip Leader
Dr Michael (Mike) Styllas
Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP - Paris Institute of Earth Physics)
Laboratoire EDYTEM - Université Savoie-Mont Blanc
Highlights:
This one-day geological traverse uses the Pieria – Mount Olympus system as a natural laboratory to illustrate near-surface geoscience and its potential links to mantle processes, in an actively evolving region. The excursion links Tethyan ophiolites and chromite mineralisation with broader mineral exploration concepts, then follows the landscape toward the actively uplifting Mount Olympus mountain front. Field observations connect regional tectonics and Quaternary glaciation with fault-zone geology, groundwater circulation, river incision, floods and other natural hazards such as earthquakes.
The trip concludes at Vergina, ancient Aigai, the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom and burial place of the royal dynasty, including the tomb traditionally attributed to the father of Alexander the Great, King Philip II.
Important: Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking and bring a light jacket, as weather and temperatures may vary during the field trip.
Schedule is subject to minor changes depending on weather and field conditions.
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Departure from Thessaloniki (exact point TBC) |
| 09:00 - 09:30 | Arrival in the Agios Dimitrios area, Pieria Mountains. Coffee and introduction to the Pieria ophiolites and chromite mineralisation. Guest contribution by Ioannis Atmatzidis (MSc candidate working on chromite mineralisation in the Pieria ophiolites). |
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Field demonstration of chromite-bearing ultramafic rocks. Discussion of geophysical approaches used in exploration for metallic mineralisation in ultramafic terrains. |
| 10:00 - 11:30 | Transfer toward Litochoro via Lofos and Vrontou, with landscape views of the Mount Olympus frontal fault. Approximately 20-minute field stop to discuss regional tectonics, Quaternary glaciation, sediment production, seismicity and active uplift. |
| 11:30 - 11:45 | Arrival at Profitis Ilias church above Litochoro. Panoramic view of the Olympus summits, Enipeas valley, eastern piedmont and mountain-front fault system. |
| 11:45 - 12:40 | Easy hike toward Vythos and Lakos. Observation of the range-front fault zone and the juxtaposition of Olympus carbonates, Pelagonian ophiolitic/serpentinitic rocks and Quaternary deposits, including calc-mylonites and displaced glacial deposits. |
| 12:40 - 14:00 | Lunch in Litochoro and concluding discussion: Enipeas hydrological function, karst groundwater, river incision, flash floods and natural hazards in the broader Mount Olympus region. |
| 14:00 | Departure for Vergina |
| 15:15 - 17:45 | Visit to the Underground Museum of the Royal Tombs of Aigai. |
| 17:45 | Departure for Thessaloniki |
Date:
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Time:
07:30 - 20:00 (TBC)
Field Trip Leader
Prof. Panos Tsourlos - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Highlights:
This field trip combines the mining heritage of northeastern Chalkidiki with the cultural landscape of the Mount Athos peninsula. The excursion begins with a visit to the Stratoniki mining area, including a guided stop overlooking the Stratoni mining operations of Eldorado Gold and a discussion of the region’s long history of polymetallic mining. Participants will then travel to Ouranoupolis, the gateway to Mount Athos, where they will board a boat for a three-hour coastal cruise departing at 14:00. The cruise offers views of the Athonite peninsula and several historic monasteries along the western coast.
Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking and bring a light jacket, as weather and temperatures may vary during the field trip,
Schedule is subject to minor changes depending on weather and field conditions.
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Departure from Thessaloniki |
| 09:30 | Arrival at Stratoniki / Stratoni mining district – overview of the Eldorado Gold mining area |
| 10:45 | Coffee break in Stratoni village |
| 11:15 | Departure for Ouranoupolis |
| 12:00 | Arrival at Ouranoupolis – lunch break / free time |
| 14:00 | Departure for Mount Athos coastal cruise |
| 14:00–17:00 | Cruise along the western coast of Mount Athos (view of monasteries) |
| 17:30 | Departure for Thessaloniki |
| 20:00 | Arrival in Thessaloniki |
Date:
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Time:
07:30 - 18:30 (TBC)
Field Trip Leader
Prof. Claudio Scarpati, Professor of Vulcanology at University of Naples Federico II
Highlights:
This field trip explores the remarkable geological landscape of Meteora, part of the Meteora–Pyli Geopark. Participants will visit scenic viewpoints where the spectacular conglomerate rock towers illustrate the geological evolution of the Thessalian basin and the geomorphological processes that shaped this unique landscape. The excursion highlights the interaction between geology, landscape, and cultural heritage, including the famous Meteora monasteries built atop the rock pillars.
Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes suitable for walking and bring a light jacket, as weather and temperatures may vary during the field trip.
Schedule is subject to minor changes depending on weather and field conditions.
| Schedule | |
|---|---|
| 07:30 | Departure from Thessaloniki |
| 10:30 - 11:30 | Geological stops and viewpoints at Meteora |
| 11:30 - 12:30 | Geopark interpretation and landscape discussion (Meteora–Pyli Geopark) |
| 13:00- 14:30 | Lunch in Kalambaka |
| 14:30 - 15:30 | Visit to two iconic Monasteries and photo opportunities |
| 15:45 | Departure for Thessaloniki |
| 18:30 | Arrival in Thessaloniki |
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