Delphi Greece lies 115 miles northwest of Athens in
Central Greece. Perched on the slopes of Mt. Parnassus
with views of the Gulf of Corinth, Ancient Delphi, which
the Greeks once believed was the center of the earth,
is now a major tourist destination for visitors to Greece.
Modern Delphi is an ideal base for exploring a number
of Delphi attractions, including Ancient Delphi.
Of the Delphi attractions, Ancient Delphi is
one of the greatest. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site,
Ancient Delphi reached its peak in the 4th Century BC,
during which large numbers of pilgrims traveled to Delphi
Greece to receive advice from the Delphi Oracle. According
to the history of Greece, the
Ancient Greeks deemed Delphi “the navel of the earth”
and built the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi to worship
Apollo, god of the sun. The main site within the Sanctuary
of Apollo is the Temple of Apollo, a large Doric temple,
which housed the Oracle of Delphi. The temple was inscribed
with quotes from Greek Philosophers and contained a massive
golden statue of Apollo. The Sanctuary of Athena, another
Ancient Delphi attraction, is not far from the Temple
of Apollo. Within the Sanctuary of Athena is the Tholos,
a circular structure that is one of the most photographed
monuments in all of Greece. Other attractions within Ancient
Delphi include the 4th Century BC theatre, which was home
to the Pythian Festival; the Castalian Spring, which pilgrims
visited prior to consulting the Delphi Oracle; the stadium;
and the gymnasium.
The Oracle of Delphi was the main reason pilgrims
visited Delphi Greece. The oracle, which is believed to
have originated in the late Mycenaean period (1600-1000
BC), was the most powerful oracle and the most important
source of wisdom in Greece during the Classical period
(5th and 4th centuries BC). The Delphi Oracle was extremely
influential, consulting on a range of issues from religion
and fortune telling to politics and war. The priestess
of the Oracle of Delphi was known as the Pythia, and it
was through her that Apollo spoke. The priestess sat on
a tripod over a chasm in the ground and spoke in riddles
which were often unintelligible and were translated by
priests. The exact location of the chasm has not been
found, but it is believed to be somewhere within the Temple
of Apollo.
In addition to Ancient Delphi, visitors to Delphi
Greece can visit two museums: the Delphi Museum, which
houses many of the treasures and artifacts from Ancient
Delphi; and the Sikelianos Museum, which features classical
costumes and masks from Greek Dramas.
The municipal tourist office in Delphi has Delphi travel
information. There are a number of things to do in Delphi,
including visiting Mt. Parnassos and the Parnassos National
Park, which is a popular skiing and mountain climbing
destination. Eleven miles south of Delphi is the resort
and market town of Itea. Also nearby to Delphi Greece
is Amfissa, a small town known for its green olives. Delphi
is conveniently located near the Peloponnese area of Greece
and the cities of Patras, Corinth, and Mycenae. The modern
city of Delphi is easily reached by bus from Athens,
making it possible for visitors to combine a trip to Delphi
with sightseeing in Athens or one of the many Greece cruises
that sail to the islands of Santorini,
Mykonos, and Rhodes.
Visitors to Delphi can also travel by train, although
the nearest train station is 29 miles from Delphi, or
by a private taxi excursion.
