A
land of towering mountains and beautiful beaches, the prefecture
of Fthiotida (Phthiotis) has all the prerequisites for a delightful
holiday all year round.
Here you may chose to swim in isolated beaches or well known summer
resorts, you can wander among mountain villages “drowned”
in plane and oak trees or enjoy winter sports in modern skiing
resorts and let your memory revive heroic moments of the Greek
history (at Thermopylae, Alamana or Gorgopotamos).
 Add
to the picture several thermal springs equipped with modern tourist
facilities (Ypati, Kamena Vourla, Platystomo) and you can have
an idea of the vacational possibilities offered by the area.
Lamia
(220 km. from Athens), a bustling commercial city and capital
of the prefecture, is built up the southwest, pine-covered slopes
of Mt. Othris near the Sperhios River.
Dominating
the city from a hill above it, a Frankish castle rises from the
stones of the ancient acropolis. On another hill stands the 18th
century chuch of Aghios Loukas (around late 19th-early 20th century)
with a magnificent view of the Maliac Gulf and beyond to the shores
of Evia. The Lamia museum has an interesting archaeological collection
of Classical and Hellenistic finds, pottery, sculpture, statues,
and Geometric figurines.
The
municipal buildings, hotels and tavernas are centered around the
city’s four main squares, each of whom has its own distinctive
feature: the cathedral, plane trees and fountains, the statue
of the Revolutionary hero Athanasios Diakos, the statue of the
Greek evzone.
During
your stay here, make it a point to try the local homemade egg
noodles, “kourambiedes” (crushed almond cookies), and
“trachana” (a form of dumpling).
The
historic Thermopylae (Thermopiles) pass lies 18 km. southeast
of Lamia. The statue of Leonidas and the cenotaph of his 300 Spartans
remind one of the heroic 480 BC battle. The famous since antiquity
thermal springs of Thermopylae, bubbling quite near, have made
an important resort out of the village.
At a distance of 3 km, stands the historic bridge of Alamana.
Kamena
Vourla, to the north, is a popular sparesort, renowned for its
therapeutic waters and dry, healthy climate. The coastal towns
of the area, Aghios Konstantinos, Arkitsa – linked by ferry
with Edipsos on Evia – as well as the lovely beaches of Aspronerio,
Aghios Serafim and Aghios Nikolaos are pleasant places to spend
a holiday especially for those who like swimming and dining on
fresh fish.
There
if a magnificent beach at Livanates, which also has an old church,
Aghios Theodoros. Before making the turn for Atalanti, it’s
worth stopping at its harbour Skala, at Malesina, with the little
coastal settlement of Aghios Theologos to leeward, and Martino,
famed for its delicious “myzithra” cheese (similar to
ricotta).
Talantonini
opposite Skala is a small picturesque island.
Next
stop is Atalanti, commercial and agricultural center of the area.
The catacombs of St. Athanassios at the heart of the town are
of special interest. Further west of Atalanti one can visit Elatia
and Tithorea, wooded areas of archaeological interest, as well
as Amfiklia, one of the starting points for going up to the Parnassos
ski center.
West
of Lamia there is one of the most historical towns of Central
Greece, Ipati. Built on the slopes of Mt. Oiti, where the homonymous
national Forest, among oak arid plane trees and cypresses. The
spot offers also a panoramic view to the sea. Ipati has played
an important role at all eras of Greek national history.
Loutra
Ipatis, identified with the town itself, is an important spa equiped
with hotelier and tourist installations.
Moni
Agathonos (a monastery of the 15th century) lies at 7 km from
Ipati and is considered one of the most illustrious monuments.
Apart from valuable historical relics the Museum of Oiti Natural
History is also roofed here. The beautiful villages of Mt. Oiti,
such as Pavliani covered with fir and plane trees offer a refreshing
shelter during hot summer months. Makrakomi is a market town and
traffic center built in Sperhios valley upon the ruins of the
ancient homonymous city.
Well
known for its thermal springs is the village of Platystomo (34
km west of Lamia). North of Lamia, on the way to Domokos, which
is a historic town with a fine view over Thessaly valley, a side
road leads to the ruins of ancient Melitaea; not far from here
is built the Byzantine Monastery of the Holy Trinily (Aghia Triada).
Worth visiting are also the coastl town Stilida, the tranquil
fishing hamlets Karavomilos and Achladi and finally the beaches
of Pelasgia and Glifa.
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