I’m sure I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I am a huge Art History nerd. It was my favorite class in high school and my major in college. I’ve taken several classes on Classical Greek art and architecture so I’d seen photos of Delphi and it’s many treasures. But seeing it in person still surpassed all my expectations.

The Sanctuary of Apollo

The Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi was the center of ancient Greek religious life for hundreds of years. Citizens traveled here to consult the prophetic oracle, to witness athletic competitions and plays and to leave votive offerings. The result is a hodge-podge of buildings and monuments, crawling up the side of a mountain.

Photos and plans of the site fail to capture its truly magnificent setting. Delphi is located in the mountains and the sanctuary itself hugs a rugged hillside. As we wandered among the ruins, every monument we stopped to admire was framed by a gorgeous vista.

The buildings that make up the Sanctuary of Apollo are not particularly well preserved. The small treasury building has been significantly restored and is probably the most intact structure at the site. For others, such as the once massive Temple of Apollo, only a few columns remain.

But even in its dilapidated state, it’s not hard to imagine the former glory of this religious complex. The ancient Greek visitors to Delphi must have been just as awestruck by the displays of wealth and artistic skill as we were.

The Museum

Other than the buildings themselves, most of the treasures unearthed at the Delphi archaeological site are now safely housed indoors, at the Delphi Archaeological Museum.

The museum is just down the road from the Sanctuary and a combined ticket gets you entrance to both. Walking around in that museum felt like being physically immersed in one of my college textbooks. It was amazing to see so many of the most famous works from ancient Greece in person.

The Sanctuary of Athena Pronea

Located just a little ways down the hill from the Sanctuary of Apollo, the sanctuary of Athena Pronea was our final sightseeing stop in Delphi. This temple complex is in even worse shape than that of Apollo. All that remains of most of the structures, including the temple of Athena, are the foundation stones.

Still, it was surreal wandering around and seeing the stones that once formed these monumental structures just strewn about, some with beautifully carved details.

The most famous and striking building at this site is the Tholos, which was partially restored in the 1940s. Even in its current state, this round structure showcases the grace and precision of Greek architecture.

It seemed like most tour groups don’t make it down to the Temple of Athena. There were only a handful of other people around when we visited, making for a truly serene setting to soak in the natural and man-made beauty surrounding us.

The Town

A lot of visitors just come to Delphi as a day trip from Athens. While it is certainly possible to see all the sights in a few hours, I would highly recommend staying in town for at least a night.

One reason is that the scenery surrounding Delphi is just so stunning. We stayed for two nights and got up pretty early for our one full day there. This meant we got to see the way the light and shadows moved across the mountains throughout the day. We also got to eat dinner at a restaurant with an amazing sunset view.

The tiny town of Delphi is perched on the side of a mountain and has one main road. This means that literally every building on the downhill side of the street has an awesome view.

Our full day in Delphi was easy and enjoyable. Everything we wanted to see was within walking distance of our hotel. We were able to take a mid-day break from sightseeing and go back to town for lunch. And we continued to enjoy the friendly hospitality and delicious food that we found throughout this lovely country.