Minivan, Minibus & Coach Transport with Driver - Delphi - Arachova - Osios Loukas

Full Day from Athens

Trip to Delphi - Arachova - Osios Loukas

See the sanctuary of Apollo

DELPHI

Delphi was believed to be the centre of the ancient world, The Navel of the Earth and a place of worship for the god Apollo, also the most famous oracle in ancient Greece, where kings would travel from afar for a prophesy.

We shall visit the sanctuary of Apollo, as well as the stadium, the Athenian treasury and the museum where you can see among other treasures and ancient relicks the bronze charioteer which is one of the most widely recognisable ancient Greek statues.

ARACHOVA

Just a few kilometres from Delphi, Arachova is located nestled into the Parnassos mountain at a height of 960m. A picturesque, traditional village with a cosmopolitan feel, it is a popular winter destination among Athenians. A great place to make a stop and have lunch and take in the breathtaking mountainous scenery.

OSIOS LOUKAS

Now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Osias Loukas is a historic walled monastery located not far from Arachova and has breataking views from its location on the slopes of Mount Helicon. It is one of the most important monuments of Middle Byzantine architecture and art and was founded in the early 10th century AD by the hermit, Venerable St. Luke, whose relics are kept in the monastery to this day. Hosios Loukas is the largest of three monasteries surviving from the Middle Byzantine period in Greece. There is evidence that the monastery was reputed all over Byzantium for its lavish decoration, liberally applied to all surfaces. Visitors are left awe-struck by the wonderful buildings, marbles and frescoes.


Time: approx. 9 hours

Arachova

Beautifully located town

Osios Loukas

See this graphic monastery up close

When reality leaves you breathless We all read about the Delphi oracle either from history, the legends of the Olympians, adds regarding Greece or even through movies or documentaries but somehow they can't fully describe the site beauty and impressive location. Next to the museum you also have toilets and a shop if you want to buy anything. Would recommend visiting the museum first to make an idea on how the site looked like when it was fully operational as well as seeing some nicely preserved sculptures. Then you head over to the main site and you realized that it was sitting behind a rocky mountain with a beautiful view over the area and the sea. It's pretty windy even on a summer day in August when we went and if the sun is in the clouds it's quite a nice walk. However I would recommend wearing a hat and sunscreen as when the sun hits you can easily get burned. From up you realize this was a complex which included not only the main temple of Apollo but a small theater, a school as well as other temples. Usually what people see in most pictures is the small temple of Athena which is further down the main entrance to the main site for which you do not need to pay any entrance. Would recommend visiting it as well as it is nicely preserved.

Visitor's review on Trip Advisor

I have seen mosaics in Famous museums in Tunisia, Antakya, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, many sites in Italy, however, the mosaics in this active monastery of five monks s truly remarkable. If there is one place you choose to visit for seeing Byzantine mosaics make that Hosios Loukas Monastery. The landscape, scenery, and atmosphere is not far behind the mosaics themselves. They also offer first-rate handmade icons in their gift shop. A must see. I even skipped my plan to visit Delphi and spent the whole day at the monastery absorbed by the mosaics and all.

Visitor's review on Trip Advisor

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