Travel Greece – Delphi & Meteora | Aegean Dreams Greece Travel

Romantic Vacation of Ashley & Yung Tat
Travel Period: Oct 2014
Program: 12 Days 11 Nights Aegean Grandeur with Delphi and Meteora

It was last last summer that Ashley and Yung Tat contacted us. They expressed the desire to visit Greece and specifically requested to have Delphi and Meteora added to their itinerary – a splendid choice indeed! Most travelers came to Greece to see the ancient sites such as the famous Parthenon perched on the Acropolis of Athens before hitting the beautiful islands that Greece is well-known for. If one have a little more time, then the two UNESCO world heritage sites of Delphi & Meteora should be on the top of your list. Of course they are so many places that are equally worth spending your time but we leave that to our next blog.

ORACLE OF DELPHI

The archaeological site of Delphi is near the modern village of the same name in Greece. In ancient times it was the most important site of the oracle of Apollo (the god of light and prophecy) and people from all over the Mediterranean would come to ask for help. Back then, Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the center of the universe. Ashley and Yung Tat were comfortably transported along with our guide from Athens to Delphi, this scenic route demonstrating the beautiful landscape of Thebes, Levadia and the picturesque village of Arachova right on the slopes of Mount Parnassus before arriving in Delphi. The actual sites stands on top of a rocky hill which offers great view to the valley beneath full of olive trees. Delphi archaeological site includes two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena along with other buildings, mostly intended for sports. The young couple then made their onward journey for Kalambaka, a village at the foot of the Meteora peaks, the next highlight of this trip. They took some time to explore this traditional village followed by a good rest.

GEOLOGICAL PHENOMENON – METEORA

The next morning promises a visit to one of the most magical and captivating place on earth. Meteora is unique and has the most impressive scenery with ageless Monasteries, containing priceless historical and religious treasures, standing between earth and sky. ‘Suspended in the air’ (the meaning of Meteora in Greek), these monasteries represent a unique artistic achievement and are one of the most powerful examples of the architectural transformation of a site into a place of retreat, meditation and prayer. The monasteries are built on rock pinnacles which rise starkly over 400 meters above the Peneas valley and the small town of Kalambaka on the Thessalian plain. These pinnacles were created some 60 million years ago, emerging from the cone of a river and further transformed by earthquakes. Between the 14th and 16th century during the peak of the Byzantine period, 24 monasteries stood proudly on the summits of the rocks. Now 6 of them remained to be explored.