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Delphi Archaeological Museum
2h · Admission ticket included
SightseeingDelphi Museum is dedicated to the promotion of the history and antiquities of Delphi and the promotion of archaeological studies in the region.
The permanent exhibition, which houses important objects of the archaeology of Greece, presents a panoramic view of the rich history of Delphi and is divided into three chronological sections: pre-history, ancient Greek civilization, and Byzantine civilization. The exhibition also presents objects from excavations in the region as well as some significant works from other museums that complement the archaeological material.
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Temple of Apollo
15m · Admission ticket included
The Temple of Apollo, also known as the Pythian oracle and the oracular shrine to Apollon, consists of over 100 columns in the largest Doric peristyle ever constructed.
The oracle at Delphi was established in the 7th century BC. The Pythian Games were celebrated there every four years and in 467 BC these games were replaced by a Pythian festival that continued annually until it was closed by Christian authorities in AD 393. The site remained active until the 12th century, when it was sacked by invading pirates led by the Norman adventurer Bohemond III of Antioch.The name "Olympia" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "Olympia," meaning "Pelvic." The site, however, had no building in its original sense. The various sports and athletic contests were originally held within the opening of a natural stadium in the valley and were not part of any building.
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Delphi
1h
Founded more than 2,500 years ago, the world-renowned city of Delphi is a true treasure. In ancient times, this cultural and historical gem was considered the headquarters for most of Greece's major religious institutions. Its Acropolis was the site of a major temple to Apollo and was the ceremonial seat of power for many important oracles. The renowned sanctuary there is still in operation; it has seen some of its most famous visitors, including Alexander the Great, Charles Darwin and Winston Churchill.
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1h
Visit the ancient site of Pronaia, dedicated to Athena and one of the most important sanctuaries in Greece. Here, art and architecture come together in a box set into the rock face of a sheer cliff next to the sea .
Some of the highlights include the three-story high temple of Athena and a cistern with an important inscription.
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1h
In Greek mythology, Castalia took the role of the nymph of prophetic springs. She was a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys and was loved by Apollo.
The Castalian Spring, in the ravine between the Phaedriades at Delphi, is where all visitors to Delphi — the contestants in the Pythian Games, and especially pilgrims who came to consult the Delphic Oracle — were required to drink before they could enter the temple.
It is in a sacred place, since it was at this spot that Apollo himself appeared to King Croesus of Lydia.
The water at the Castalian Spring contains medicinal properties because it is said to be imbued with the breath of Apollo.
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Tholos of Athena Pronaia
30m
The Tholos or Siphnius was an ancient Greek rotunda-shaped temple built in Delphi, Greece, to be the center of the religious and social life of the Sanctuary of Delphi.
The name comes from the Greek words "tholos" and "siphnē", meaning, respectively, "round house" and "channel". It is commonly referred to in English as the circular Temple of Delphi.
The Tholos was constructed on a steep hillside just outside the walls of ancient Delphi. It consisted of a circular colonnade of twelve columns that formed an open ring around a raised, circular "naos" (or "cella"), which was almost completely encircled by a wide, shallow steps.
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Ancient Theatre
15m · Admission ticket not included
The theatre at Delphi has been restored and is now open to the public, providing a unique experience for visitors. The theatre was built higher up the hill from the Temple of Apollo providing a view of both the sanctuary and valley below. It was built to order by Pythagoras who also established its design in accordance to his theory of harmony.
The theatre was dedicated to "Apollo Delphinios" or Apollo the Dolphin. It was most likely built in honor of Pythagoras's victory over the tyrant Neoptolemus at Olympia in 478 BC. The ancient Greeks performed ritual sacrifices on the top of the theatre, with the remains of animals and offerings inscribed on a stone on the summit.
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Treasury of the Athenians
15m · Admission ticket not included
The Delphi Stoa is one of the most famous structures in ancient Greece. It was built by Iktinos, an Athenian architect and engineer, around 470 BC. The stoa opened to the Sacred Way, a road that led to the treasury of the Athenians. As a result, it became a meeting place for people from all over Greece and beyond.
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Ancient Stadium
30m · Admission ticket not included
The Ancient Greek city of Delphi is home to the Temple of Apollo, the site of one of the first stadiums in history. The Old Stadium was built in 588 BC and is still a gem you should not miss on your trip to Greece. The stadium was initially built by the Greeks to host games of the Pythian Games and it is surrounded by three tiers of seating.
One of the most famous events at this ancient stadium was in 776 BC when Queen Atalante held a chariot race to celebrate her husband's return from battle. The event ended in tragedy when one of the chariots crashed into a wall, killing Atalante.
