Arachova "Winder Mykonos" - Fokida
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East of Delphi, on the slopes of Pamassos (940 m asl), is the little town of Arachova . It is particularly picturesque with the characteristic architecture of its stone-built houses, narrow paved streets, superb mountainous landscape and healthy climate. Arachova has excellent tourist facilities, good restaurants, tavernas, shops and a lively night life. It has developed into one of the most important winter vacation resorts in Greece , on account of its proximity to the Pamassos Ski Centre. More over, because most visitors to the archaeological site of Delphi pass through it, there is activity all year round. Apart from the high standard hotels, rooms can be rented in village houses. The local "Women's Rural Tourism* Co-operative' manages 200 beds in the homes of its members. The handwoven textiles of Arachova with folk motifs, the good wine and the local cheese formaella are renowned. The feast of St George (23April) is a double celebration for the village. The three day events honouring both the saint and Karaiskakis's victory over the Turks, include running races for old men dressed in local costume. The highspot is the closing glendi (community party). A short distance to the north of Arachova is the Corycian Cave , popularly known as the "Sarandavli", a wonderful cave with stalactites and stalagmites in which visitors can admire the art of nature and its remarkable creations.
 Southeast of Arachova is Distomo, a historic village famed for its role in the 1821 War of Independence as well as for its resistance to the Germans and their terrible reprisal in 1944. The road continues southeastwards, leading to the Monastery of Hossios Loukas, one of the most important Byzantine monasteries in Greece, built in a s pellbind ing environment on the slo pes of Mount Helicon, It was founded by Hosios, a hermit who died and was buried here in 953. Both the katholikon, which now houses the monastery museum, and the small churches of the Koimeses (Dormition of the Virgin) and St Barbara, are decorated with mosaics and wall-paintings of superb art as well as with valuable icons. Museum, tel.: 22670 22.797.
Another pretty village hereabouts is Davlia, built on a steep crag with abundant brooks. Nearby, on a slope of Parnassos, is the Monastery of the Dormition of the Virgin Jerusalem, a dependency (metochi) of the Sinai Monastery.
A marvellous journey through the pine trees leads from Arachova to the three ski centres on Parnassos: a) At "Gerontovrachos" (2390 m asl, 17 km from Arachova); b) At "Kellaria" (1750 m asl, 23 km from Arachova, 20 km from Amphikleia); c) At "Fterolakka" (1800 m asl, 26 km from Arachova, 17 km from Amphikleia).
There are ski runs for beginners, proficient and experienced skiers, ski lifts, ski schools, shops where equipment can be purchased or hired, a children's playground and child-care amenities, chalets serving food, first-aid posts and parking. In the villages around, there is accommodation of all classes, as well as restaurants, taver ns, discos, bars, ships etc.
 Information:
Parnassos Ski Centre, tel. 22340 22.693-5,
Municipality of Arachova , tel. 22.670 31.630, 22.670 29,170,
At "Sarandan", 1900 m asl, is the "Parnassos" mountain refuge. As the roa
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