OLYMPIA and DELPHI
OLYMPIA is located in the Western Peloponnese in Southern Greece. It’s famous for being a religious sanctuary of ancient Greece and, in today’s world, for being where the Olympic Games originated. They were held every four years from the 8th century B. C. until the 4th century A.D.
In its heyday, Olympia had seventy-plus temples and a vast collection of statues and altars, most of which were dedicated to deities.
It’s no surprise, given that Olympia was built thousands of years ago, that the site is now in ruins. Archaeologists, historians, and historic preservationists are constantly on the site, working on new excavations and restorations.
To appreciate Olympia, I recommend either a guided tour, an independent audio-guided tour, and/or a purchase of the guidebook with transparent plastic covers that depict how each major site in Olympia looked in its prime. These books are terrific. They bring ancient sites to life.
The Olympic Games historic stadium is worth a visit. It’s a memorable experience to stand on the track where the games, which now attract millions of people worldwide, originated.
Allow approximately two hours to explore ancient Olympia. The little town, just a few minutes walk from the entrance to the site, has several outdoor restaurants and no shortage of souvenir stores.
DELPHI is only two hours and fifteen minutes from Athens. Many visitors choose to do a day trip. We spent a night at the family-run hotel Acropole Delphi – in a compact sun-filled suite with a little balcony that offered sweeping views of the mountains and valleys carpeted in olive trees, a lagoon, and the ocean in the distance.
Delphi takes on a completely different atmosphere of beauty and serenity when all the tour buses depart just before sunset.
At the suggestion of the hotel’s owner, we took a late afternoon walk to the often-overlooked jewel of Delphi, The Sanctuary of Athena. Along our route, we passed the main tourist attraction, The Temple of Apollo, set against a backdrop of soaring rugged rock formations, the Archaeological Museum, and the 4th century Gymnasium. Unfortunately, all that remains of the Temple of Apollo are four ancient columns and piles of rocks.
Remember that these sites are centuries old. The best way to enjoy them is to take a tour.
We reached the Sanctuary of Athena at 5:30 pm when the sun was setting, and we were the only visitors. Just us and the friendly caretaker. We had been told that the temple had a spiritual aura, and it lived up to its reputation. There is something so exquisite and soothing about this elegant, centuries-old temple in a camouflaged setting below the road that winds into Delphi. Built in the 4th century BCE at the gateway to Delphi, it was dedicated to the goddess Athena, whose duty was to protect her half-brother Apollo. It had such a magnetic beauty that we returned before breakfast early the following morning and once again had it all to ourselves.
Arachova is a twelve-minute drive from Delphi. It’s a delightful village. Visit in the late morning when all the stores are open. Settle down in a café on the main street and linger over a cup of coffee while soaking up the ambiance of an atmospheric Greek village before you continue on your drive to Athens.