Α picturesque mountainous village
Arachova is a mountainous village nestling picturesquely at the foot of Mt. Parnassos in Viotia, Southern Greece.
It is one of the cosmopolitan winter destination in Greece, ideal not only for passionate ski lovers and celebrities, but also for visitors who wish to relax in a dreamy mountainous setting with modern tourism facilities.
Its modern ski resort, its close proximity to Athens, and its breathtaking mountainous landscape are the strongest reason why. Apart from the mountain activities, Aráchova is also famous for its bustling nightlife and as the favorite mountain resort of Athenians. It is located 35 km west of Livadeia.
Something From History
It was in Arachova that Georgios Karaiskakis (1780-1827) defeated the Turkish army led by Moustafabei in November 1826.
Must visit: The Byzantine churches of the village with their well preserved frescos.
Hot tips:
- Discover the traditional character of the village by taking leisurely walks through its narrow cobblestone streets.
- Enjoy hot and sweet or soft and fruity drinks in cafés, or traditional kafeneia (coffee shops).
- Also there are a plethora of bars and clubs up and down the streets of Aráhova.
- Visit the nearby archaeological site of Delphi.
- Visit Parnassos National Park
Accommodations
Various elegant, first-class hotels or traditional guesthouses offer luxurious accommodation.
Outdoor Activities
Skiing, snow board, sledging as well as other winter sports at the ski resorts of mountain Parnassos at “Gerontovrachos” (17 km N), "Kelaria" (23 km N) and "Fterolakka" (26 km N).
Hiking from the archaeological site of Delphi (which is located at the borders of the Prefecture of Fokida) to the cave of Korykeio Andro.
Mountain tours (jeep, enduro, mountain bike) at the mountain of Parnassos.
Famous Local Products
Arachova offers a memorable gourmet experience.
Taste local specialties: kontosoúvli (big hunks of pork skewered and put on a rotisserie with onions, tomatoes, peppers and seasoned with salt and pepper, garlic and oregano), kokorétsi (the intestines of the lamb stuffed with offal), sarmades (stuffed grape leaves), traditional pies, handmade trahanas (pasta soup, can be sweet or sour), and hilopites (egg noodles made in linguine-sized strips, cut into small pieces).
The region of Arachova is well-known for its textiles, woodwork, dry wines and the local cheese, called "formaela". The milk used to produce this cheese comes exclusively from animals that graze freely in mountainous regions. Because their diet consists of local plants and herbs, the cheese develops a uniquely rich and complex flavour.
Have a sip of the divine Parnassos local wine, the red “Mavroudi”, which achieved Protected Designation of Origin status in 2006. The “Black Arachova vine” is a full-bodied prolific variety that produces wines of a deep red hue with a high alcohol content.
Complete your meal with traditional “spoon-sweets”. Before you leave Arachova, pick up some hand-made beautifully coloured woven carpets (flocati rugs) and textiles to take with you as a going-away present.
🙏 Thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends or follow the blog for more Greek travel inspiration
The Greek Heaven Team