Delphi
Travel Advice for Seniors: Delphi
We took a day trip out of Athens to Delphi, home of the Oracle of Delphi. I had been there previously on my very first international trip. The site had been cleaned up a good bit since then, meaning that walkways were more structured and parts of the structures had been rebuilt, it seemed less of an archeological site as opposed to a tourist attraction, for lack of a better description.
Located on Mount Parnassus, the Oracle dates to 1400 BC and was important on and off until the Fourth Century. The oracle, Pythia, was a priestess who would answer questions about the future while sitting over a natural gas stream in the Temple of Apollo. Her prophesies would then be interpreted by priests. The thought was that these prophecies would come directly from Apollo, the Greek God of sun and light, archery, music, prophecy, the arts, and healing. The Oracle was consulted before any major events or serious undertakings.
The Temple of Apollo is the centerpiece of the site and parts of it have been reconstructed with a light touch to give the general idea of what it may have looked like. It was abandoned in 390AD when Roman Emperor Theodosius I issued an order for the destruction of pagan temples.
The shrine sits on a beautiful steep mountain and looks out over a valley. Just the view is worth the fairly steep ramped climb up. You can go all of the way up to the Panhellenic track, but it is at a pretty sharp incline. This is where the Pythian Games, one of the four Panhellenic Games of ancient Greece, were held.
For this day trip, remember to bring extra water and snacks and wear comfortable shoes. The pathways aren’t too rocky, but there is a pretty steep incline. Especially up to the track. Go slow and enjoy the view!
There is also the Delphi Museum on the site that has some remarkable artifacts. Don’t miss the bronze Charioteer.
We enjoyed our day out of Athens and hearing some of the legends surrounding the Oracle. It is about two hours out of Athens and after being in the city for a few days, it was nice to go on a road trip and see a bit of the countryside.
Where we stayed: Day trip from Athens.
How we got there: Two-hour bus ride from Athens each way. This was part of a 14-day small group tour through Greece including stops at Santorini, Mykonos and Crete.
General Accessibility Information: Major tourist sights, newer hotels, transportation in most major cities are accessible. Even some beaches are accessible. Apps like accessaloo can help you find accessible bathrooms. Call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
