Your wonderful private tour to Parnassus will begin with an English-speaking driver, tailored to your needs, as you travel along the highway toward the mountain.
Along the way, you will make short stops at selected points of interest, as well as additional stops whenever you wish, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the panoramic views and capture beautiful photos.
After approximately two and a half hours, we will reach Delphi, one of the most famous archaeological sites in Greece, passing by the Castalian Spring.
On our way back, you may stop for dinner to taste traditional flavors and local cuisine in the picturesque mountain village of Arachova.
Travel through Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova on your way to Delphi, once considered the “navel of the world.” Visit the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo, and the Archaeological Museum. Enjoy a relaxing lunch in the village of Delphi before returning to Athens in the evening.
The archaeological site of Delphi includes two main sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena, as well as several other buildings, many intended for athletic and ceremonial purposes. Visitors arriving from Athens first encountered the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia—that is, “Athena who is before the temple” of Apollo. Outside its walls lay the settlement of Delphi, while within the sanctuary stood the famous Tholos, now a symbol of Delphi, and the remains of three temples dedicated to Athena. The two earlier temples, built of tufa on the same site, date to the middle of the seventh century BC and around 500 BC. The third temple, constructed of limestone, was built at the west end of the sanctuary after the earthquake of 373 BC.
This sanctuary also included the altars of Zeus Polieus, Athena Ergane, Athena Zosteria, Eileithyia, and Hygeia, as well as the remains of two buildings dedicated to the cult of local heroes Phylakos and Autonoös, who were credited with routing the Persians from Delphi. Two treasuries with marble roofs—one Doric and the other Aeolian—stood within the sanctuary. The Aeolian Treasury of Massalia preserves a characteristic palm-leaf capital. Additionally, the sanctuary featured a memorial commemorating the defeat of the Persians, a statue of Emperor Hadrian, and a building known as the “House of the Priests.”
To the northwest of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia lay the gymnasium, a space for exercise and learning, as well as the palaestra and baths. Further up the slope was the Castalian Spring, the sacred spring of Delphi, where travelers quenched their thirst after long journeys and purified themselves before consulting the oracle.
The central and most important part of the site was the sanctuary of Apollo, enclosed by a peribolos (wall) with a main gate at its southeast corner. From here, visitors entered the Sacred Way, the street leading to the Temple of Apollo with its famous adyton, where the Pythia delivered her oracles. With the temple and Sacred Way at its center, the sanctuary expanded across artificial terraces supported by monumental walls. These terraces were bordered by porticoes—the Portico of Attalus, the Portico of the Aetolians, and the Portico of the Athenians—accessible through gates in the enclosure wall.
Scattered along the Sacred Way and among the buildings were numerous votive monuments, dedicated by Greek cities or wealthy individuals, either to commemorate socio-political events or to express gratitude to the god and his oracle. These monuments reflect artistic achievements spanning from the East to the Mediterranean coasts and indicate the wealth of their patrons. They range from bronze and silver tripods (symbols of the oracle) to complex groups of sculptures in bronze or marble. Small but luxurious votive buildings, known as treasuries, were used to store offerings and display the artistic and financial prestige of the cities that commissioned them.
The imposing Temple of Apollo dominated the sanctuary from a large terrace supported by a remarkable polygonal wall. In front of its entrance, visitors could admire impressive votive monuments, many commissioned by wealthy individuals. Above the temple lies the theatre, where the musical and theatrical contests of the Pythian Games took place, and even higher on the slope, beyond the sacred enclosure, is the stadium, where athletic contests were held.
Outside and around the two sanctuaries are the remains of the settlement and cemeteries of Delphi, which developed primarily during the Classical and Roman periods.
The Archaeological Museum of Delphi, one of the most important museums in Greece, showcases the history of the Delphic sanctuary, home to the most famous ancient Greek oracle. Its rich collections consist primarily of architectural sculptures, statues, and minor objects dedicated to the sanctuary, reflecting its religious, political, and artistic significance from the eighth century BC to its decline in Late Antiquity.
The museum is housed in a two-storey building with a total area of 2,270 square metres, featuring fourteen exhibition rooms, 558 square metres of storerooms, and conservation laboratories for pottery, metal objects, and mosaics. During its most recent refurbishment, a new lobby, cafeteria, and gift shop were added.
The museum is overseen by the Tenth Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.
Simply send us your request, and we will contact you with a personalized plan tailored to your needs and preferences, including a curated list of recommended hotels for each destination. If you like, we can also build your ideal itinerary together.
