Best Places to Eat

¨ Taverna Vakhos (p195)

¨ Georgaras Restaurant (p216)

¨ Yali Kafene (p196)

¨ Kerasia Tsipouradiko (p207)

Best Places to Stay

¨ Lost Unicorn Hotel (p215)

¨ Hotel Faros (p215)

¨ Doupiani House (p227)

¨ Alsos House (p225)

¨ Hotel Alexakis (p204)

When to Go

Apr & May Wild herbs and flowers mingle in alpine meadows.

Sep Stable, sunny weather and fewer crowds.

Orthodox Easter Villages follow tra-ditional customs, with parades and copious food.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Delphi°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm

0/32

10/50

20/68

30/86

40/104

0

0.2/5

0.39/15

0.79/20

Central GreeceWhy Go?Ancient Greece’s ‘centre’ of the earth – Delphi – is these days among Greece’s most visited places for its archaeo-logical site, ancient footpaths and vistas of the Corinthian Gulf. Delphi is rivalled in popularity only by Meteora, the breathtaking outcrops 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 breezy summer hikes and winter skiing. And it doesn’t get much better than the beautiful Pelion Peninsula, home to Jason and the Argonauts, and criss-crossed with histor-ic cobblestone paths linking lush mountain hamlets with coves and beaches that rival the best islands.

And speaking of ‘good, better, best’… The region’s good-natured people serve up hospitality, superb experienc-es and great cuisine. There’s no better place to navel gaze.

Includes ¨Delphi . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187Nafpaktos . . . . . . . . . .199Karpenisi . . . . . . . . . . .201Agios Konstantinos . 204Larissa . . . . . . . . . . . . 205Volos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206Pelion Peninsula . . . . 209Trikala . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219Meteora . . . . . . . . . . . . 221Kalambaka . . . . . . . . . 225Kastraki . . . . . . . . . . . 226

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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DELPHI & STEREA ELLADAGreek mythology and history seem to min-gle in the rugged and scenic landscape of Sterea Ellada (Στερεά Ελλάδα). On the slopes of Mt Parnassos sits the famous site of An-cient Delphi. The land stretches east to At-tica, where the legendary King Oedipus met his fate, and west to Messolongi, where Brit-ish bard Lord Byron died of fever during the Greek War of Independence. The region ac-

quired its name, meaning Mainland Greece, in 1827, as part of the newly formed Greece.

Delphi & Ancient Delphi ΔελφοίPOP 850

If the ancient Greeks hadn’t chosen Delphi (from delphis, womb) as their navel of the earth and built the Sanctuary of Apollo here, someone else would have thought of a good

187

SEAAEGEAN

Gulf ofKassandra

GulfSaronic

Gulf ofPatra

Gulf ofCorinth

SEAMEDITERRANEAN

THESSALY

ATTICA

STEREAELLADA

PELOPONNESE

EPIROS

KaryesGerakini

Loutra

Kozani

Larissa

Farsala

Lamia

Arta

Amfilohia

Karditsa

Trikala

Kalambaka

Metsovo

Rafina

Livadia

ATHENS

Thiva(Thebes)

Halkida

Lavrio

Nafplio

Hydra Town

Piraeus

Delphi

Patra

Agrinio

Kyllini

MessolongiNafpaktos

Argos

Tripoli

Sparta

ZakynthosTown

Pyrgos

Kyparissia

Kalamata

Megalopoli

Corinth

Loutraki

Perahora

EdipsouStrofylia

Parga

CorfuTown

Preveza

Town

Sami

Lefkada

Igoumenitsa

Mytikas

Ioannina

Konitsa

Mt Ossa

(2918m)Mt Olympus

(2497m)

(2637m)Mt Smolikas

Mt Iti

(1978m)

Mt

(1413m)Parnitha

(2457m)ParnassosMt(2125m)

Mt Grammos

Mt Gamila

(2520m) LakeAliakmonas

KremastaLake

SkiathosSkopelos

Alonnisos

Evia

Salamina

Spetses

Aegina

Poros

Hydra

Ithaki

Corfu

Antipaxi

Paxi

Kefallonia

Zakynthos

KassandraPeninsula

Halkidiki

nas

Aliakmo

Ara

htho

s

Ahel

oös

ALBANIA

E65

Loutra Ipatis &Iti National Park

PeninsulaPelionVolos

Karpenisi

Meteora

AncientDelphi

50 km30 miles0

0

1 Wandering along former donkey paths to the sea on the Pelion Peninsula (p209).

2 Feasting on fresh trout from mountain streams near Karpenisi (p201).

3 Trying a tsipouro or three with the locals in Volos (p206).

4 climbing the monastery-topped rock pinnacles at Meteora (p221), following ancient footpaths to hidden caves.

5 Meditating over the last light of day at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronea in Ancient Delphi (p189).

6 Lazing in the hot springs in Loutra Ipatis (p204), or hiking in nearby Iti National Park (p204).

Central Greece Highlights