Athens Trip Overview
The history of Delphi begins in prehistory and in the myths of the ancient Greeks. In the beginning the site was sacred to Mother Earth and was guarded by the terrible serpent Python, who was later killed by Apollo.
Our first stop is going to be the monastery of Osios Loukas, which represents the second golden age of Byzantine art (11th-12th Century). We will then drive on to Delphi, the centre of the ancient world – the ‘’Omphalos’’ (Navel of Earth) – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the most famous oracle of the ancient world. We visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of the Apollo and the Museum containing masterpieces of the ancient Greek sculpture. After your visit to the museum, a stop will be made for a traditional Greek lunch in the village of Delphi, and the village of Arachova.
Additional Info
Duration: 8 to 10 hours
Starts: Athens, Greece
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Athens, Attica, Greece
The history of Delphi begins in prehistory and in the myths of the ancient Greeks. In the beginning the site was sacred to Mother Earth and was guarded by the terrible serpent Python, who was later killed by Apollo.
Our first stop is going to be the monastery of Osios Loukas, which represents the second golden age of Byzantine art (11th-12th Century). We will then drive on to Delphi, the centre of the ancient world – the ‘’Omphalos’’ (Navel of Earth) – whose prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic World. On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty, lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollo, the most famous oracle of the ancient world. We visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of the Apollo and the Museum containing masterpieces of the ancient Greek sculpture. After your visit to the museum, a stop will be made for a traditional Greek lunch in the village of Delphi, and the village of Arachova.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Monastery of Hosios Loukas, Distomo 32005 Greece
Hosios Loukas is a historic walled monastery situated near the town of Distomo, in Boeotia, Greece. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, and has been listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites,
The monastery of Hosios Loukas is situated at a scenic site on the slopes of Mount Helicon. It was founded in the early 10th century AD by the hermit, Venerable Hosios Luke of Steiris (Greek: Lukas).
His relics are exhibited in the Katholicon (main church of the monastery). They were stolen by the Crusaders during the 13th AD and kept in the Vatican for centuries.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Temple of Apollo, Delphi Greece
Delphi in legend previously called Pytho, in ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The oracle was international in character and also fostered sentiments of Greek nationality, even though the nation of Greece was centuries away from realization. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the omphalos (navel). The sacred precinct was in the region of Phocis, but its management had been taken away from the Phocians, who were trying to extort money from its visitors, and had been placed in the hands of an amphictyony, or committee of persons chosen mainly from Central Greece. According to the Suda, Delphi took its name from the Delphyne, the she-serpent (drakaina) who lived there and was killed by the god Apollo (in other accounts the serpent was the male serpent (drakon)
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Delphi Archaeological Museum, Ethniki Odos Amfissas – Livadias, Delphi 330 54 Greece
The Delphi Archaeological Museum is at the foot of the main archaeological complex, on the east side of the village, and on the north side of the main road. The museum houses artifacts associated with ancient Delphi, including the earliest known notation of a melody, the Charioteer of Delphi, Kleobis and Biton, golden treasures discovered beneath the Sacred Way, the Sphinx of Naxos, and fragments of reliefs from the Siphnian Treasury. Immediately adjacent to the exit is the inscription that mentions the Roman proconsul Gallio.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Delphi, Delphi, Phocis Region, Central Greece
The modern town of Delphi is situated immediately west of the archaeological site of the same name, and hence is a popular tourist destination. Delphi is also the name of the modern-day municipality in which the town of Delphi is situated
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Arachova, Arachova, Boeotia Region, Central Greece
Arachova is a mountain town and a former municipality in the western part of Boeotia, Greece, originally called Karyai (also spelled Caryae). Its name is of South Slavic origin and denotes a place with walnut trees. It is a tourist destination due to its location in the mountains, its traditions and its proximity to the town of Delphi. The town is a popular day or weekend trip destination from Attica and a gathering place for the rich and famous.
Greek rebels under Georgios Karaiskakis defeated the Ottomans at the 1826 Battle of Arachova.
The Formaela cheese from Arachova has been designated as a protected designation of origin. Nearby Arachova, modern ski facilities are popular with visitors.
Duration: 1 hour
