Parnassos: ski in the shadow of the most famous ancient oracle!
Only few of those who visit the Archaeological Park of Delphi know that the wooded slopes of Parnassos right above them turn, when winter is drawing on, into the country’s leading ski resort, which is ideal even for one-day getaways from Athens. This season finds Kelaria, one of the two ski centres that operate there, in a state of total renewal, as renovation works worth 17 million Euros have just been completed. The project is spearheaded by the brand new, state-of-the-art combi-lift, which can be found in just 4 ski centres around the world and will take you from an altitude of 1,750 m. to 2,250 m. in less than ten minutes, with absolute comfort and safety, while slopes of all categories and all sorts of winter sports will make your adrenaline run high all day long.
The picturesque town of Arachova on the southern endings of the mountain is the “flagship” of ski tourism in Greece. With the “Lakka” square as your starting point, in the town’s main street you will find many all-day coffee-bars (such as the cozy “Gospel”), clubs for having fun until dawn, remarkable restaurants, luxury boutiques and shops with ski equipment, while, both in Arachova and in the nearby Livadi, the accommodation options range from cozy guesthouses and simple rooms to 5-star mountain resorts.
Two other up-and-coming villages are Agoriani, which lies on 7 hills in the north-western slopes of Parnassos, and Amfiklia at the north-eastern foot of the mountain. For your stay in Arachova we suggest the luxurious “Santa Marina Arachova Resort & Spa” (tel no 22670 31954) and “Monte Bianco Villas”, a new complex of detached residences (tel no 22670 31704). The new “Le Sapin” is a hot spot for food (tel no 22670 31108) that places emphasis on French tastes, while “Archontico” offers quality traditional dishes (tel no 22670 31631).
In Agoriani, splendid local dishes can be tasted in the “Kyr-Yannis” tavern (tel no 22340 61127) in the ground floor of the guesthouse “To balconi tis Agorianis”, while “Le Grand Chalet” is an extremely successful all-day hangout (tel no 22340 61301) overlooking the village. The guesthouse “Dadi Archontico Parnassou” (tel no 22340 29040) is housed in a carefully restored 19th-century mansion in Amfiklia.
Article by Athinorama
