CENTRAL GREECE T E N a L P 237 Y L E N Pelion Peninsula O L

CENTRAL GREECE t e n a l P 237 y l e n Pelion Peninsula o L

Feasting on fresh trout on fresh Feasting Following the cobblestone of day at the Sanctuary of Athena ( p243 ), in p243 ( of day at the Sanctuary of Athena Ancient Delphi End of the Road Spotting Dalmatian pelicans ) p250 Lagoon ( Klisova skimming over Historical Meditation Meditation Historical Don’t Look Down Climbing the monastery- ) p275 ( topped rock pinnacles at Meteora Riverside Dining Riverside ) p253 near Karpenisifrom mountain streams ( rafting in river Go with the Flow White-water ) p271 ( the Tria Potamia area Joining the evening crowd Together at Last Joining the evening ) p261 for outdoor summer cinema in Volos ( Walk this Way ) p262 ( Peninsula trails to the sea on the Pelion

POPULATION: 1.9 MILLION 1.9 MILLION POPULATION:

      HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS 

It is no coincidence that this dramatic landscape was the setting for heroic struggles amongIt is no coincidence that this dramatic landscape Facing the northern Aegean Sea lies the Pelion Peninsula, criss-crossed with historic criss-crossed with historic Peninsula, the northern Sea lies the Pelion Aegean Facing In the northern region of Thessaly, the surrounding flatlands and hills suddenly give way to hills suddenly give the surrounding flatlands and of Thessaly, In the northern region The ruins at Delphi, where Alexander the Great sought the advice of the famous oracle, sought the advice of the Alexander the Great ruins at Delphi, where The

 gods and mortals, or that a resilient and good-natured people endure and thrive here still. here and thrive people endure gods and mortals, and good-natured or that a resilient timbers of the Pelion forests. timbers of the Pelion that Jason and the Argonauts set sail in search of the Golden Fleece, in a boat made from set sail in search of the Golden Fleece, in a boat made that Jason and the Argonauts best islands, but without the crowds. According to Greek mythology, it was in nearby Volos mythology, it was in nearby Volos According to Greek best islands, but without the crowds. cobblestone paths that link lush mountain hamlets with coves and beaches that rival the with coves cobblestone paths that link lush mountain hamlets the South Pindos mountain range, its high alpine meadows perfect for breezy summer hikes. range, its high alpine meadows perfect mountain for breezy the South Pindos to world-class rock climbing. Away to the west, river-rafting and hiking opportunities Away to the west, river-rafting abound into world-class rock climbing. spectacular columns of rock are not only a mecca for Greek Orthodoxbut also home pilgrims, for Greek not only a mecca spectacular of rock are columns breathtaking outcroppings of rocky towers, the sheer monastery-topped cliffs of Meteora. These of Meteora. cliffs breathtaking outcroppings of rocky towers, the sheer monastery-topped hikes that retrace ancient footpaths that overlook the Corinthian Gulf. ancient footpaths that overlook hikes that retrace remain one of Greece’s most inspiring archaeological sites and are also the starting and are point for sites most inspiring archaeological one of Greece’s remain warriors and centaurs. punctuated with dramatic reminders of Greek history and mythology, oracles and muses, history and of Greek with dramatic reminders punctuated ranging from rocky sea cliffs and hidden bays to inland river valleys and olive groves, all groves, olive valleys and and hidden bays to inland river from rocky sea cliffs ranging First-time visitors to Central Greece are often surprised by its rugged and diverse landscape, diverse by its rugged and surprised often are Greece Central to visitors First-time Κεντρική Central Greece Central Greece CENTRAL GREECE impressive prisoner. taken in thebloodybattle. Another 30,000were the temples, butnot6000Thebans whodied trol andsidingwithPersia. Alexanderspared Great forrebelling againstMacedonian con- whenitwassacked byAlexanderthe BC, Thiva’s gloriousrunendedabruptly in335 rious inbattleagainstonce-invincible Sparta. thecitywasvicto- region.Boeotia In371BC Thivabecamethedominantcity of the BC, rivalled thatof ancient Mycenae. dynasty, centred onthemythof Oedipus, of itspastglory,thetragicfate of itsroyal present-day ThivahasfewAlthough vestiges rivalledthatofOedipus, ancientMycenae. of itsroyaldynasty,centred onthemythof Greece andthePeloponnese. Thetragicfate ing astrategic northern positionbetween duringGreece’s goldenage, occupy- BC in400 Dionysos, wasapowerfulcity-state Thiva, the pop 22,400 birthplace of Hercules and river rafters alike. their beauty,andexplored byhikers and are mountains same prizedfor Today, these asuncollec purposes written fortax off table. the hard-to-reach villages mountain were Tourkokratia or ‘Unrecorded’, sonamedduringthe regiontainous isknownastheAgrafa Epiros tothenorth.Much of thismoun- gulfs of CorinthandPatra inthesouth,and newly formed Greek state. (Mainland Greece) in1827,aspartof the the region acquired the nameSterea Ellada ing theGreek Warof Independence. Infact, British bardLordByrondiedof fever dur- met hisfate, andwesttoMessolongi, where east toAttica,where legendary KingOedipus Delphi,thelandsstretch the world.Beyond garded bytheancientGreeks asthecentre of looking theGulfof Corinth, sitsDelphi,re- Ellada. Ontheslopesof MtParnassos, over- in therugged andsceniclandscapeof Sterea tomingle Greek mythologyandhistoryseem ΣΤΕΡΕΑ 238

TIA (THEBES) THIVA SEE ELLADA STEREA After theTrojan Warinthe12thcentury Sterea Elladaisbordered bythenarrow In keeping withitshistory, Thivahasan TRAELD • Tia(hbs ELLADA••Thiva(Thebes) STEREA Archaeological Museum Archaeological (Turkishoccupation),when Θ

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