Greece – Delphi (En)

Delphi is a town on Mount Parnassus in the south of mainland Greece. It’s the site of the 4th-century-B.C. Temple of Apollo, once home to a legendary oracle. This extensive mountainside archaeological complex contains the remains of the sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, as well as an ancient stadium and theatre.

We stayed at Camping Delphi (38.478553, 22.47492 lat, long) for 21 euros per day with the Acsi card. The views are amazing and the swimming pool has the best views. The facilities are ok, and the swimming pool is excellent, there is also a small shop and a Tavern, but the prices of both are extremely expensive, 2,50 euros for a small can of beer. So for that, I only give it 4 stars. The staff is friendly and for 6 euros per person, they take you to the Archeological complex and bring you back, which is excellent.

We used the camping transport to go to the Archeological complex, the entrance is 12 euros per person but if you are a pensioner older than 65 years is only 6 euros. At the complex you will see the Apollo Temple discovered in 1892, the building with its colonnade partially restored is from the 4th century b.c. According to Mythology, the oracle operated inside the Temple. It is the third temple built in the same place.

You continue going up and you arrive at the Theatre which had a capacity of 5.000 spectators. From the stands, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Sanctuary and the Cirra Valley full of olive trees. It was built in the 4th Century b.c, with stone from the very hill where it is located. The shows took place mainly during the celebration of the Pythian Games, where lyrical, dramatic and musical competitions were held.

From the theatre going up a path to the left, you reach the Delphi Stadium. It was built in the 4th Century b.c, although later in the 2nd Century a.d, it was enlarged and reconstructed by the wealthy Roman ambassador Heros Atticus. It had an approximate capacity for 7.000 spectators and athletic competitions also took place there during the Pythian Games festivities.

From there we went all the way back down taking pictures of the views and the Temple.

Leaving the complex and following the road to the right you arrive at the Castalia Fountain. Its name derives from the nymph Castalia, daughter of the river Acheloos who was the wife of the King of Delphi. In the past, the water fell from a high of almost 600 meters and was the place where pilgrims went to purify their bodies, before being able to access the sacred precinct of Apollo.

Opposite the Castalia fountain, on the slope of the hillside is the porticoed gymnasium, which was built in the 4th Century b.c. Of it, only the base of the columns and the perimeter of the enclosure survive. It consisted of two racetracks: an indoor one 7 meters wide and 178,35 metres long and another outdoors, an arena, hot springs and a circular pool.

After the ruins of the gymnasium, we found the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. The guardian protector of the city of Athens, goddess of wisdom, fertility and health. The most recognized building of all those found in Delphi is the circular tholos located in the middle of the sanctuary, of which three of its columns supporting part of the architrave survive, erected to worship the goddess Athena between the centuries 370 and 360 b.c.

We went back to the complex so we can visit the Museum which was included in the price and where you can find artefacts found in the ruins. Among them are the statues of Cleobis and Biton, the ex-voto of the Naxios that was behind the rock of Sibila and the metopes and friezes of some of the most important treasures of the city. The most valuable piece is the Charioteer of Delphi, a bronze sculpture that commemorates an important victory in the Pythian Games in 478 B.C.

We finished our day in the swimming pool enjoying the views.

The next stop is Athens, the capital of Greece and home of the famous Acropolis, which you can see in the next post!