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Delphi

This was the sense of the poet Angelos Sikelianos who between 1927 and 1930 revived the Delphic Festival, here in Delphi, the centre of the earth, wishing to "instill the forgotten Delphic watchword in all human souls". Sikelianos' house still stands in the modern town of Delphi. About a thousand people lived in the vicinity of the Sanctuary, expiating the Oracle and the pilgrims in a variety of ways - selling knives for sacrifices or religious objects, exercising the professions of servant and inscription carver.

Today's residents, having superb facilities for tourists. Souvenir shops, Restaurants and hotels, both traditional and contemporary in style, stand for both the Greece of today and the Greece of the year 2000, Greece the member of the European Community. You can discover this modern fascinating land, choosing from among the itineraries proposed below, either using your own car, a rented vehicle or the local buses.

The museum's collection consists exclusively of objects of all kinds from the Sanctuary of Delphi. Among its major works are, the navel of the world (a Hellenistic or Roman copy of the Sacred Stone), the Sphinx of the Naxians (550 BC), the statue of Antinous, the statue of Agias, the group of Thyiads (three colossal female figures portrayed dancing around a flowered column from the Sanctuary of Dionysos), the metopes from the Treasuries of Sicyon and Athens, the Karyatid and Zephyr from the Treasury of Siphnos, the bronze Charioteer and the head of Dionysos.

The road links Delphi with Arahova, which are one of the biggest towns in the area. Historians identify it with the pre-Homeric city of Anemoreia. It is known for its local architecture, sturdy houses and narrow, cobbled lanes. By poking through the numerous souvenir shops one can find fine examples of folk art and woven articles, wool rugs, shoulder bags and flokatis. The tavernas serve the robust red wine of the area. From Arahova the road starts to ascend Parnassos, passing through pastureland and fir forests before reaching the two fully equipped ski centres, one at Kelaria and the other at Fterolaka; both are operated under the supervision of the GNTO. Parnassos is wonderful for mountain climbing as well as skiing. The ascent to the summit, which should preferably be done in July or August, can be done in one day.

Excursions - Along the same road that lead to the ski centres, 10 km. from Arahova, lies the Corcyrean Cave, called Sarantavli today. Adorned with stalagtites and stalagmites, the cave in antiquity, as Pausanias recounts, was devoted to the cult worship of the God Pan and the Nymphs.

If one feels like walking, one can reach the cave from the archaeological site at Delphi by cutting across the mountain ridges (2 1/2 hours).
The road continues along the slopes of Parnassos and arrives at Eptalofos or Agoriani, an astonishing mountain village, which celebrates Easter in a particularly interesting way.

Still following the same road one next reaches the source of the Kiphissos river and the village of Lilea. One can still see traces of the ancient city, which took its name from the nymph Lilea, daughter of Kiphissos.

Leaving Parnassos, the road winds along the slopes of Mt. Ghiona to the village of Gravia, known for its role in the War of Independence, and Amfissa, capital of Phokis prefecture. Even today a Frankish castle stands in watch above the town. The valley, which spreads out below it, is extremely fertile and planted primarily with olive trees. The road winds back up the mountain to Delphi.
 

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