Delphi Description
(Local Name: Delfí) Altitude: 520-620m/1,705-2,035ft

The Delphi area offers plenty of scope for mountain walks and winter sports, mainly on Mt Parnassus (2,457m/8061ft:). There are bathing beaches at Itéa, Kírra and Galaxídi. The harbor of Itéa has customs clearance facilities.

Regular bus services from Athens.

Delphi, lying on the slopes of Mt Parnassus high above the Gulf of Corinth, is one of the most famous cult sites in Greece, famed throughout the ancient Greek world and beyond as the sanctuary of Apollo and the shrine of his oracle. The site ranks with the Acropolis in Athens, Olympia and the island of Delos as one of the most important sites of the classical period of Greece; and the
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Hobbies & Activities category: Beach;  Archeological site or ruin;  Literary site;  Region with significant interests;  Skiing opportunity;  UNESCO World Heritage Site
Delphi Highlights

Delphi Museum

The Museum at Delphi, between the excavated area and the village, contains a fascinating collection of finds from the site, only a selection of which can be mentioned here.

In the vestibule is an
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Figures by a Peloponnesian Sculptor

Room 4: Kleobis and Biton, sons of the priestess of Hera at Argos (ca. 600 B.C.; height 2.16m/7ft high), two massive Archaic figures by a Peloponnesian sculptor.

Friezes

Room 2: three Archaic bronze shields.

Room 3: in the center the sphinx of the Naxians (ca. 550 B.C.) and a caryatid from the Treasury of the Siphnians (ca. 525 B.C.), the friezes from which are
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Metopes

Room 6: metopes from the Treasury of the Athenians, including Theseus and Antiope, Herakles and the Arcadian hind.

Rooms 7 and 8: remains of the Archaic temple of Apollo; in particular (Room 7)
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Statue

Room 11: statue of Agias (ca. 350 B.C.; by Lysippos?); acanthus column with three korai or Thyades (ca. 350 B.C.); head of a philosopher (ca. 280 B.C.).

Room 12: the Charioteer, the famous bronze
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Stele

Rooms 9 and 9A: stele from Marmariá depicting an athlete and his attendant (460 B.C.); circular altar with the figure of a girl (ca. 310 B.C.; head of Dionysos (fourth century B.C.).

Room 10 (to
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Votive Offerings

Room 5: votive offerings of the seventh-fifth centuries B.C. found under the Sacred Way north of the Treasury of the Corinthians, including a life-size bull of silver and gold, carved ivories and
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Sanctuary of Apollo

The Sanctuary of Apollo is approached from the museum on a footpath parallel to the road which runs past the remains of a mosaic pavement belonging to an early Christian basilica to the main
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Castalian Spring

To the east of the sacred precinct at Delphi, in a gorge between the two Phaidriades, is the Castalian spring, with recesses in the rock for votive offerings. Here the faithful purified themselves
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Gymnasion

In Delphi, on the opposite side of the road Castalian spring, is a path leading down to the Gymnasion, which consisted of a covered running track 180m/200yd long and a palaistra (training area), and a circular bath 10m/33ft in diameter.

Polygonal Wall

To the rear of the Sanctuary of Apollo is a polygonal wall of the sixth century B.C., covered with ancient inscriptions, supporting the platform on which the temple stands. Against it is built the 2
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Sacred Way

From the gateway at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, the Sacred Way leads uphill, first going west, then bending sharply northeast and finally bearing north to end in front of the entrance to the
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Sanctuary of Apollo Theatre

A flight of steps leads up to the theater at the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi.

The theater (fourth century B.C., with later alterations down to the Roman period) could accommodate 5,000 spectators
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Stadion

50m/165ft higher than the theater at the Sanctuary of Apollo, under a vertical rock face, is the Stadion, which received its final form in Roman times. Of this structure there survive the tiers of
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Temple of Apollo

The present Temple of Apollo at Delphi is the third on the site. The first temple, built in the seventh century B.C., was burned down in 548 B.C. The second was built by the Alcmaeonids in 531 B.C
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Treasuries

Along the next section of the Sacred Way, on the left, are the first of the more than 20 treasuries in which votive offerings were preserved from the weather and from theft - the Doric treasury of
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Treasury of the Athenians

The Treasury of the Athenians (built in or shortly after 510 B.C.; re-erected 1903-06) is in the form of a Doric temple in antis. The metopes (copies: originals in the Museum) depict themes from
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Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia / Tholos

An interesting section of the Delphi site is the Marmariá precinct, with the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia ("Athena in front of the temple" - i.e. the temple of Apollo). Beyond the later temple of
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Town

The present little town of Delphi, now a concentration of hotels and shops catering for tourists, was established only in 1892, when the village of Kastrí, which had grown up on the site of the
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Surroundings

There are various interesting sites near and around Delphi.

Amphissa

Altitude: 590ft/180m

Ámfissa (Amphissa) at the foot of Mt Parnassus, now a country town in Phocis, 14 km/8.5 mi northwest of Itéa on the road from Itéa to Lamía, lies on a hill surrounded by
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Gravia

Along the slopes of Mt Ghiona is the village of Gravia, known for its role in the War of Independence.

Arakhova

Arákhova, a mountain village in Phocis, 9km/6mi east of Delphi, is famed for its magnificent situation in wild country on the southern slopes of Parnassus (winter sports), for its colorful woven
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Corcyrean Cave / Sarantavli

10km from Arakhova lies the Corcyrean Cave, today called Sarantavli. It is 1,300m/4,265ft above sea level and naturally well lit. Adorned with stalactites and stalagmites, the cave in antiquity, as
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Ayios Nikolaos / Aghios Nikolaos

The port of Áyios Nikólaos is a good place from which to cross to the Peloponnese.

Distomo (Distomon)

Distomo is a market town with significant archeological findings that played a major role in the Revolution of 1821. There is an interesting museum here.

The town lies near the sea and has a beautiful beach (Distomo Beach or Aspra Spitia).

Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum in Distomo is housed in a 1903 neoclassical building, originally used as a primary school. It contains the finds from Distomo and the surrounding areas.

Eratini

Eratini (ancient Kolophona), a fishing village on the sea, ideal for bathing and summer pleasures. There are remnants of an ancient fortress near Marmara.

Galaxidi

17km/10.5mi southwest of Itéa, on the west side of Itéa Bay, is Galaxídi, with a castle, a monastery and a small museum.

Galaxídi is situated at the end of a little fjord. It was an important
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Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum features finds from Galaxidi and the surrounding area, including artifacts found in the sea. This building also contains the Nautical and Ethnological Museum.

Nautical Museum

The Nautical Museum of Galaxidi displays paintings of sailing ships, nautical instruments, figureheads, and related items. Also to be found in the museum is the 1865, "Galaxidi Chronicle" published by K.N. Sathas.

Itea / Kirra

19 km/12 mi southwest of Delphi lies the little port of Itéa, in a bay on the Gulf of Corinth, with a bauxite works which has been the subject of controversy. East of the town is the site of ancient Kirra.

Kira

The seaside village of Kira is known for its lovely beaches.

Krisso (Hrisso)

The village of Krísso offers some beautiful scenery with pine trees and olive groves.

Lilea

The village of Lilea is built on an ancient city which took its name from the nymph Lilea, daughter of Kiphissos.

You can still see traces of the ancient city.
Address
Delphi
33054 Delfí
Greece
Hours
November 1 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:308:308:308:308:308:308:30
Closed15:0015:0015:0015:0015:0015:0015:00
April 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:008:008:008:008:008:008:00
Closed19:3019:3019:3019:3019:3019:3019:30
Always open, even if weekly hours indicate otherwise
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Óhi Day - Greece & Cyprus (October 28)
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Good Friday - Christian
Easter - Christian
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Cost
Adult6.00 Euros
Concession or reduced rate3.00 Euros
Child 18 & underFREE
Students from EUFREE
Tips
Combination tickets for the site and the museum are available.
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