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Parnassos

Mount Parnassos, with 3300 inhabitants, 800 – 1100m altitude, 157 km from Athens, 25 km from Parnassus (Parnassos) ski centres, 8km from Delphi, and about 25km from the beautiful beaches Antikira, Itea, and Galaxidi.

In 2000 B.C. Homer mentioned in the Iliad two famous generals who took part in the Trojan war Epistrophos and Schedias from the old towns of Anemoria and Kiparissos. These old towns were situated where Arahova stands today.

During 334 B.C. Philip the 2nd king of Macedonia destroyed both towns and their populations dispersed over the hills until over the years one new town, Arahova, was built.

Since the l4th century A.D. pilgrims from all over the world pass by Arahova and there are written testimonies of famous people mentioning the inhabitants of Arahova. Should someone, not acquainted with this town, read this information, he would think it to be exaggerated. However, the people who know Arahova, know for a fact that this information is very true.

In later years visitors, such as the Italian Kiriakos (1435) the Frenchman Spon (1676), the Swede Sturzen, Becker (1784) and the Englishman Clark (1801) all described the village as "a well populated town". They also mentioned an abundance of churches.

The Metropolitan Bishop of Athens, Meletios, in his «Geography» quotes in reference to Arachova, as “The most famous town in Parnassus”.
Lord Byron in 1809 said about the Arachovian women, that “they were very careful and polite”.

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