ARACHOVA
Located in a serene natural area, with uncompromising mountain views, a wise choice for the Ancient Greeks who believed it to be the centre of the world and one of the most beautiful areas in Greece, Santa Marina Arachova Resort & Spa is a stylish boutique Mountain Spa Resort on the slopes of the traditional and picturesque village of Arachova and 2 hours from Athens airport and capital city. Santa Marina Arachova Resort & Spa is the ideal place for a wonderful retreat at any time of the year. Experience the pleasures of ski and snow in winter on the nearby slopes of Mt. Parnassos, the most popular ski resort in Greece, as well as short excursions to the archaeological sites of Delphi, and the nearby picturesque villages during summertime in the enchanting seaside.
Archaeological Site Delphi
Deplhi was a Temple/sanctuary/monument/tomb. Delphi is at the foot of Mount Parnassos, the highest peak in Greece after Mount Olympos. Delphi was the site of one of the most important pan-Hellenic oracles of the Greek world, that of Pythian Apollo, as well as other important sanctuaries. Modern excavations were begun by a French team in 1882. During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious and political influence. In the 3rd century B.C. it came under the domination of the Aetolians and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree of emperor Theodosius the Great.
Archaeological Museum of Delphi
The first museum of Delphi was built in 1903 and was finally completed in 1980. The museum is actually an integral part of the sanctuary and contains exclusively finds from the site of Delphi, mostly offerings and architectural parts.
Monastery of Hossios Loukas The Monastery of Hosios Loukas, one of the finest 11th century Byzantine monuments in Greece, is set on a picturesque slope on the western foothills of Mount Helikon, near the ancient town of Steiri. The monastery of Hosios Lukas was an important center of Greek Orthodox Christianity in the Byzantine period. Hosios Lukas not only founded one of the most majestic monasteries in Greece but he also had the gift of prophecy, and predicted the Bulgarian invasion of Greece, the liberation of Crete, and his own death in 953. His death was first commemorated in 955 C.E., and his cult began to grow after the liberation of Crete in 961 fulfilled his prophecy. Since then, the monastery of Hosios Lukas has been a site of pilgrimage, as his tomb was associated with miracles. The monastery complex consists of a group of two churches, flanked by cells and ancillary buildings. It is protected by an enclosure wall with towers at the corners. The church of the Panayia is the earlier of the two. It seems highly likely that it was built at the initiative of the emperor Romanos 11 (959-963), immediately after the great historical event predicted by Hosios loukas, the Byzantine recapture of Crete from the Arabs in 961. Its architecture, pioneering in Greece at the time, is that of the complex tetrastyle church, widely found in Constantinople. Since 1990 the monument is included in the UNESCO list of properties and World Heritage List.
Parnassos Ski Center
The Ski Centre on Parnassos is situated at an altitude of about 1.600-2.300m and it is the biggest and best-organised ski-resort in Greece. Parnassos has been the first preference by the Athenians (since it is actually 180 kms far) as well as for other skiers and snowboarders who warm its tracks on weekdays but particularly during the weekend. No wonder since the Centre has twenty tracks of 14 km total length. At the same time its infrastructure is such which facilitates quick service for a great number of visitors/skiers. Santa Marina Arachova runs an authentic chalet for lunch, drinks and snacks, during the winter period, at the first ski centre in Parnassos, called Gerondovrachos ski centre since 1976. It is ideal for families as well as ski lovers who wish to enjoy the pleasures of skiing in combination with a memorable lunch with captivating mountain views.
Corycian Cave
Along the same road that to the ski centres, 10 km, from Arahova, lies the Corycian Cave, called Sarantavli (Forty Rooms) today. Adorned with stalagtites and stalagmites, the cave in antiquity, as Pausanias recounts, was devoted to the cult worship of the god Pan and the Nymphs. If you feel like walking, you can reach the cave from the archaeological site at Delphi by cutting across the mountain ridges (2 1/2 hours).
Archaeological Site Delphi
Deplhi was a Temple/sanctuary/monument/tomb. Delphi is at the foot of Mount Parnassos, the highest peak in Greece after Mount Olympos. Delphi was the site of one of the most important pan-Hellenic oracles of the Greek world, that of Pythian Apollo, as well as other important sanctuaries. Modern excavations were begun by a French team in 1882. During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious and political influence. In the 3rd century B.C. it came under the domination of the Aetolians and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree of emperor Theodosius the Great.
Archaeological Museum of Delphi
The first museum of Delphi was built in 1903 and was finally completed in 1980. The museum is actually an integral part of the sanctuary and contains exclusively finds from the site of Delphi, mostly offerings and architectural parts.
Monastery of Hossios Loukas The Monastery of Hosios Loukas, one of the finest 11th century Byzantine monuments in Greece, is set on a picturesque slope on the western foothills of Mount Helikon, near the ancient town of Steiri. The monastery of Hosios Lukas was an important center of Greek Orthodox Christianity in the Byzantine period. Hosios Lukas not only founded one of the most majestic monasteries in Greece but he also had the gift of prophecy, and predicted the Bulgarian invasion of Greece, the liberation of Crete, and his own death in 953. His death was first commemorated in 955 C.E., and his cult began to grow after the liberation of Crete in 961 fulfilled his prophecy. Since then, the monastery of Hosios Lukas has been a site of pilgrimage, as his tomb was associated with miracles. The monastery complex consists of a group of two churches, flanked by cells and ancillary buildings. It is protected by an enclosure wall with towers at the corners. The church of the Panayia is the earlier of the two. It seems highly likely that it was built at the initiative of the emperor Romanos 11 (959-963), immediately after the great historical event predicted by Hosios loukas, the Byzantine recapture of Crete from the Arabs in 961. Its architecture, pioneering in Greece at the time, is that of the complex tetrastyle church, widely found in Constantinople. Since 1990 the monument is included in the UNESCO list of properties and World Heritage List.
Parnassos Ski Center
The Ski Centre on Parnassos is situated at an altitude of about 1.600-2.300m and it is the biggest and best-organised ski-resort in Greece. Parnassos has been the first preference by the Athenians (since it is actually 180 kms far) as well as for other skiers and snowboarders who warm its tracks on weekdays but particularly during the weekend. No wonder since the Centre has twenty tracks of 14 km total length. At the same time its infrastructure is such which facilitates quick service for a great number of visitors/skiers. Santa Marina Arachova runs an authentic chalet for lunch, drinks and snacks, during the winter period, at the first ski centre in Parnassos, called Gerondovrachos ski centre since 1976. It is ideal for families as well as ski lovers who wish to enjoy the pleasures of skiing in combination with a memorable lunch with captivating mountain views.
Corycian Cave
Along the same road that to the ski centres, 10 km, from Arahova, lies the Corycian Cave, called Sarantavli (Forty Rooms) today. Adorned with stalagtites and stalagmites, the cave in antiquity, as Pausanias recounts, was devoted to the cult worship of the god Pan and the Nymphs. If you feel like walking, you can reach the cave from the archaeological site at Delphi by cutting across the mountain ridges (2 1/2 hours).
