Ancient Greece's 'centre' of the Earth – Delphi – is these days among Greece's
most visited places for the archaeological site, ancient footpaths and vistas of the
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Central Greece Why Go? Delphi & Sterea Ellada ............. 188 Thiva (Thebes) .......... 188 Moni Osios Loukas .... 198 Messolongi ................ 201 Karpenisi ...................202 Meteora & Thessaly ...206 Volos .......................... 207 Pelion Peninsula ........209 Trikala .........................218 Meteora .....................220 Kalambaka . ............... 223 Kastraki ..................... 225
Best Places to Eat ¨¨Taverna Vakhos (p196)
Ancient Greece’s ‘centre’ of the Earth – Delphi – is these days among Greece’s most visited places for the archaeological site, ancient footpaths and vistas of the Corinthian Gulf. Delphi is rivalled in popularity only by Meteora, the breathtaking outcroppings of rocky towers topped by teetering monasteries (and rock climbers). The central Greece (κεντρική Ελλάδα) region also holds many underrated surprises. Alpine meadows and valleys cover the Evritania mountain range, making it perfect for skiing, white-water rafting and breezy summer hikes. And it doesn’t get much better than the beautiful Pelion Peninsula, home to Jason and the Argonauts, and criss-crossed with historic cobblestone paths linking lush mountain hamlets with coves and beaches that rival the best islands (yes! ssshhhhh!). And speaking of ‘good, better, best’? The region’s goodnatured people serve up hospitality, superb experiences and great cuisine. There’s no better place to navel gaze.
When to Go
¨¨Bebelis (p199)
Delphi
¨¨Taverna Orea Ammoudia
40/104
(p214) ¨¨Georgaras Restaurant
(p216)
Best Places to Stay ¨¨Lost Unicorn Hotel (p215) ¨¨Hotel Ganimede (p199) ¨¨Mansion
Karagiannopoulou (p216) ¨¨Doupiani House (p225)
°C/°F Temp
Rainfall inches/mm 0.79/20
30/86
0.39/15
20/68 0.2/5
10/50 0/32
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Apr & May Wild herbs and flowers mingle in alpine meadows.
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M
J
J
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Sep Stable, sunny weather and fewer crowds.
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N
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Orthodox Easter Villages that follow traditional customs, with parades and copious food.
188
DELPHI & STEREA ELLADA
dependence. The region acquired its name, meaning Mainland Greece, in 1827, as part of the newly formed Greece.
Greek mythology and history seem to mingle in the rugged and scenic landscape of Sterea Ellada (Στερεά Ελλάδα). On the slopes of Mt Parnassos sits Delphi, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the centre of the world. The land stretches east to Attica, where legendary King Oedipus met his fate, and west to Messolongi, where British bard Lord Byron died of fever during the Greek War of In-
o nas akm
ALBANIA
Halkidiki
Lake Aliakmonas
Kozani
Gerakini
Ioannina
Metsovo
Meteora
Parga
Antipaxi
elo Mytikas
Ithaki Sami
Lake Kremasta
Messolongi
Lamia
Mt Iti (2125m)
STEREA ELLADA Ancient
Agrinio
Delphi
Nafpaktos
E65
Gulf of Patra
Corinth Argos
Tripoli
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Nafplio
Megalopoli
Spetses
Kyparissia 0 0
50 km 30 miles
Kalamata
Mt Parnitha (1413m)
Thiva (Thebes)
Perahora
Pyrgos
Evia Halkida
Livadia
Loutraki
Skopelos
Strofylia
Mt Parnassos (2457m)
Gulf of Corinth
PELOPONNESE
Zakynthos Town
Loutra Edipsou
Delphi
Patra
Kyllini
Zakynthos
Alonnisos Skiathos
Karpenisi Amfilohia
Lefkada Town
Pelion Peninsula
Farsala
Arta
Preveza
Kefallonia
Volos
Karditsa
ös
Paxi
AEGEAN SEA
Larisa
Trikala THESSALY
Arahthos
EPIROS
Corfu
Kassandra Peninsula
Mt Ossa (1978m)
Kalambaka
Igoumenitsa
Karyes
Gulf of Kassandra
Mt Olympus (2918m)
Mt Gamila (2497m)
Corfu Town
Ah
Centr al Greece T D h elp i vah i( T&hSete b es) r e a E ll a da
Mt Smolikas (2637m)
Konitsa
Θήβα
Thiva, the birthplace of Hercules and Dionysos, was a powerful city state in 400 BC during Greece’s golden age, occupying a strategic position between northern Greece and the Peloponnese. The tragic fate of its
Ali
Mt Grammos (2520m)
T hiva (Thebes)
ATTICA ATHENS
Salamina
Rafina
Piraeus
Saronic Gulf Aegina
Lavrio
Poros Hydra Town
Hydra
Sparta
Central Greece Highlights 1 Wander along former donkey paths to the sea on the Pelion Peninsula (p209)
2 Feast on fresh trout
from mountain streams near Karpenisi (p202)
3 Try a tsipouro or three with the locals in Volos (p207)
4 Climb the monastery-
topped rock pinnacles at Meteora (p220), following
ancient footpaths to hidden caves
5 Meditate over the last
light of day at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronea in Ancient Delphi (p191)
