Mount Chortiatis, Mountain summit in Thessaloniki Metropolitan Unit, Greece.
Mount Chortiatis is a mountain summit southeast of Thessaloniki, covered in dense forest and part of the broader Seich Sou Forest National Park. Its slopes extend toward the city and are crossed by several hiking trails that connect different parts of the mountain.
The ancient Greeks knew this mountain as Cissus, and during Roman times an aqueduct carried water from its springs down to Thessaloniki. In the medieval period, the Chortaiton monastery was founded on its slopes and remained active until the 15th century.
The name of the mountain comes from the Chortaiton monastery, which once drew pilgrims from across the region and shaped the local identity of the area. Traces of this monastic past are still visible on the slopes today.
Good walking shoes and enough water are essential for any hike here, particularly during the warmer months when the trails can be dry and exposed. The mountain is easy to reach from Thessaloniki, and most trailheads start from the lower edge of the forest.
More than 85 plant species have been recorded on the mountain, making it one of the botanically richest areas in northern Greece. Many of these plants are typical of the eastern Mediterranean and are worth looking for along the trails.
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