Let’s just say, I arrived at Delphi.
Saw Delphi.
Explored Delphi.
And am in AWE of Delphi.
The energy in Delphi is spectacular. There’s something raw and pure, magical and mythical. You can feel it in the air with each breath you take. You can see it close up in the ancient ruins. You can view it scanning the horizon where Aegean waters meet Greek lands.
Needless to say, I am SO HAPPY we decided to tour Delphi. Using our travel agent to find us the perfect, private, guided day tour was the best decision for us! We had the whole day to drive to and from Delphi in a super comfortable SUV, a Greek guide who loves ancient history and speaks perfect English, and many hours to explore the entire place!
I personally prefer to pay a bit more for a once in a lifetime experience like this. Because I am so fascinated with ancient history, I wanted tons of time to explore Delphi on our own, without getting lost in the crowd and worrying about being left behind by a tour bus!
A Brief History Of Delphi
Delphi is a small town located on Mount Parnassus in the Southern part of mainland Greece (it took us about 90 minutes to drive here from our hotel in Athens). Home to the Temple of Apollo (4th century B.C.), sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronaia, a stadium and theatre, the Delphi Archaeological Museum, and the once legendary Oracle of ancient times.
The Oracle, a priestess of the Temple of Apollo, was the most sought after oracle in not only Ancient Greece, but also the entire classical world. Delphi at its height was known as the centre of the world, where thousands of people would venture for predictions and advice on what the future would hold for them. It is said that she (the Oracle) spoke gibberish and visitors saw steam coming out of the mountain as she foretold the future.
Such behavior has now been explained scientifically we were told, by suggestions that these vapors may have been hallucinogenic gases, causing the priestess to behave this way.
Our Ascent To The Top:
Delphi has many layers! Our guide warned us that it’s quite a hike to the top. She decided to stay at the bottom in the shade after explaining the many layers of Delphi history to us. To me, this meant we got to mix ancient history with a workout. What better way to see the sites? (I’m always thinking of ways to multi-task lol).
The ascent took us about 20 minutes at a fast pace. It could take as long as 30-40 minutes if you choose a more leisurely pace.
At the top of the hill is a beautiful stadium where ancient athletes competed. Built in 5th century B.C., the stadium was more recently reconstructed by the Romans after their invasion of Greece. The Olympics were born in stadiums like this one. For us, just getting to the top was a workout let alone competing in a running competition of some sort once you get there!
I definitely recommend getting your workout in and reaching the top of the mountain! The views from Delphi are incredible. Plus, we had a reward at the end of our adventure: LUNCH!
After our ascent down the mountain we toured the museum, which by the way guys, has some amazing relics! Seriously, the preservation here is so awesome… it’s one of the best museums and sites for preserved ancient archeological finds in the world.
Famished, we reached the most perfect lunch spot in the world. Just look at these views. It certainly doesn’t get any better in my opinion.
If you have time, trust me, don’t miss out on Delphi. Just sharing this unique experience with you guys gives me chills- I SO want to go back and take you all with me– like NOW!!
xx Shanna
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