Delphi & Olympia

We will visit:

• Battle of Chaeronea Museum or
• Osios Lukas Byzantine Monastery
• Delphi Orcle
• Ancient Olympia & Museum

Starting our tour to Delphi we drive northwest along the national highway to reach Chaeronea of Boeotia. The Sacred Band of Thebes-Boeotia (an elite military unit) famously fell at the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC against Philip II and Alexander the Great. Battle of Chaeronea Archaeological Museum contains beautiful mosaic floors, remains of Cadmea as well as many other ancient remains from nearby areas. There you can admire the Lion of Chaeronea, a nearly 20-foot-tall (6.1 m) funerary monument erected in honor of the Sacred Band, as well as the bust of the ancient biographer and essayist Plutarch, born in Chaeronea.
Alternatively, we drive up near Distomo at Hosios Loukas Monastery, situated at a scenic site on the slopes of Mount Helicon. The beginning of the monastic activity in the region starts from the Hosios Lukas himself, living there the last years of his life, from 946 to 953 when he died at the age of 56. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art, and has been listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. It consists of a complex of two churches, the monastery of the Virgin Mary (10th c.) and the Catholic (11th c.) to house the relics of Saint within an underground crypt. Hosios Loukas treated patients, advised people to different types of problem and was gifted with the ability to foresee the future.
Continuing our tour towards Delphi we drive through Arachova situated at Parnassos Mountain. It is a picturesque settlement of magnificent view with traditional elements, one of the most popular winter resorts of Athenians and VIPs due to its snow center, its natural beauties and vivid lifestyle.
After a while we reach the Pan-Hellenic Sanctuary of Delphi which was the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was regarded as the centre- the navel of the world. According to mythology Zeus sent out two eagles from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world and they were met at the point of the oracle. It was for many centuries the cultural and religious centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. Following the Sacred Way, leads to the temple of Apollo with its famous Adyton, where Pythia delivered her oracles and priests of Apollo interpreted them. The archaeological site of Delphi includes- among other buildings- the Treasury of Athenians, and two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena. We first encounter the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and within the walls we see the famous Tholos, the symbol of Delphi today. Going northwest we come across the Gymnasium the Palaestra , the Baths, the Castalian spring, the Theatre where the theatrical and musical contests of the Pythian Games took place every four years and finally, the Stadium where the athletic contests were held.
Moreover, the 2270m2 Archaeological Museum of Delphi, with 14 exhibition rooms, 558m2 of storerooms and conservation laboratories, of the most important in Greece, exhibiting by architectural sculpture, statues and minor objects the history of the Delphic sanctuary from its birth to its decline.
After the museum visit we take lunch at a very nice traditional restaurant with olive trees valley view, and we continue our drive until we reach the Battle Ground of Thermopylae (Hot Gates). The monument stands opposite the historical hill of Kolonos and represents Leonidas in full armor with the inscription Molon Lave (Come and Take). It was designed by B. Phalereus, and was erected in the 1950s at the expense of Greeks living in America. The monument was built to commemorate the battle at Thermopylae of Greeks (300 Spartans included) against Persians in 480 B.C. We also visit the Thermopylae Museum whose five rooms and a covered patio host findings from the Neolithic to the Late Roman period, tombs of the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BC) and the so-called Tomb of Plataeans 5th century B.C.
Departing the museum we drive to reach Kalambaka village to spend the night. In the morning we visit Meteora, the biggest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those in Mount Athos. Huge, cut off rocks reaching 400 m. of height, covering an area of 30km are a unique geological phenomenon. The Rock Monasteries of Meteora listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites as a unique phenomenon of cultural heritage as well as natural beauty.

Six monasteries are in operation today : The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron, The Holy Monastery of Varlaam, The Holy Monastery of Rousanou, The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas, The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen, The Monastery of Holy Trinity. We visit 3 monasteries available depending on visitation day.
After having lunch, at a traditional restaurant we take our way back to Athens…

Duration : 2 days