Lying
adjacent to Attica, this region is equally enjoyable winter and
summer.
The shores of the Euboean (Evoikos) and Corinthian (Korinthiakos)
gulfs, the ski center at Parnassos, the wealth of archaeological
sites at Orhomenos, Chaironia, Plataiai, Thebes and elsewhere
are guaranteed to hold your interest.
 The
climate is dry and Mediterranean and the vegetation, with the
exception of the fertile plains of Thebes and Kopaida, is rather
sparse among the bare rocks.
In
ancient times, Viotia (Boeotia) was called “tristhalatto”
(three-sea’d) – a name mentioned by Strabo – because
it was washed by the two halves of the gulf of Euboea and the
Corinthian Gulf.
Livadia
(135 km. from Athens), the capital of the prefecture, is built
between two hills on the sides of a gorge through which flow the
springs of Erkina. On the top of one of the hills, Profitis Ilias,
there is a well-preserved 14th century medieval castle. In ancient
times Livadia was known under the name of Mideia and was the site
of the famous Oracle of Zeus Trofonios. Scholars have identified
the location of the sanctuary, of Zeus and the Oracle as being
on Profitis Ilias. Livadia is very fertile thanks to the abundant
water in the region and the two springs known in mythology as
Lethe (Forgetfulness) and Mnemosyne (Memory), in the north of
the town at the site of Kria.
Easter
here is celebrated with particular color. The whole town becomes
an open-air barbecue and everywhere spitted lamb, “kokoretsi”
and “splinandero” (tasty kebabs made of the innards),
and local red wine are served to one and all. Musical instruments,
folk dances and all-night revels complete the traditional Easter
festivities at Livadia.
Chaironia
(Heronia). A Vilage of great archaeological interest and Plutarch’s
birthplace lies near the battlefield where in 338 BC Philip of
Macedonia defeated the allied forces of the other Greek city-states.
At the entrance to town stands the Lion of Chaironia, symbol of
courage and bravery.
 Nearby
one can see the ruins of the acropolis and theater, while the
small archaeological museum contains various objects found in
the vicinity. (Chaironia and Orhomenos).
Orhomenos,
one of the oldest and richest cities of ancient Greece, is today
a low-lying, well-watered town. Worth visiting here are the Byzantine
church of the Dormition of the Virgin (9th c.) and a vaulted Mycenaean
tomb known as the “Treasury of Minyes”. The ancient
acropolis has ruins of temples, a theater and other buildings.
Don’t leave Orhomenos without tasting its delicious trout,
renowned throughout Greece, or its similarly famous fragrant melons.
Arahova
is a mountain town little touched by modern development. At an
altitude of 940 meters, its quaint houses are built up the slopes
of Mt. Parnassos. This is a good place to buy handwoven fabrics,
“flokates” (rugs) and colored shoulder bags, and you
shouldn’t miss trying the local specialities in one of the
town’s many tavernas.
Arahova
lies 35 km. west of Livadia and is a usual stop for people headed
for Delphi or the Parnassos ski center. Most of the skiers, novices
or experienced, spend their nights in Arahova.
If
you happen to visit Arahova in the spring, try to attend the huge
celebration that occurs on St. George’s day on April 23rd.
The entertainment lasts three days and icludes a race for old
men dressed up in local costume followed by feasting on roast
lamb. Just 10 km. east of Distomo, a town with important archaeological
finds and an interesting museum, which played an important role
in the Revolution of 1821, one comes to the Byzantine monastery
of Ossios Loukas, whose 11th century mosaics and frescoes are
among the finest in Greece.
 Thebes
(Thiva) (87 km. from Athens), built in a fertile, low-lying region,
is very interesting archaeologically. It is said to have been
founded by the Phoenician King, Kadmos. Among the heroes of Thebes,
which became famous mainly for its adversities, is one of the
most tragic figures of mythology, Oedipus, whose story inspired
the most illustrious Greek tragedians, Aeschylus (“Seven
Against Thebes”), Sophocles (“Oedipus Rex”, “Antigone”)
and Euripides (“Phoenician Women”).
Thebes
was also the birthplace of Hercules, known for his wondrous feats.
Apart from being the homeland of myths and heroes, the city also
gave birth to extraordinary men like the poet Pindar, the generals
Epaminondas and Pelopidas, and others.
We
recommend that you visit the superb archaeological museum, the
Mycenaean tombs in the area, the ruins of the temple of Ismenios
Apollo and the spring of Aghii Theodori, known in antiquity as
the “Fountain of Oedipus”.
Other
sights worth noting are: the Fountain of Dirki at the Frankish
aqueduct, the Byzantine church of Aghia Fotini, the catacombs
of the early Christian church of St. Catherine, the church of
St. Luke the Evangelist in the town’s first cemetery, which
contains a 13th century sarcophagus supposed to have held the
saint’s body.
Using
Thebes as a base one can visit Plataiai (Platees) (18 km.) and
Lefktra, the sanctuary of Kabeirians, the Mycenean Acropolis Gla
or Goulas on Mt. Ptoon, Tanagra, renowned for its terra cotta
figurines, Vathi Avlidas, Faros and Dilessi.
Two
kilometers north of Vathi lie the ruins of ancient Aulis (Avlida),
where myth recounts that Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia
to the goddess Artemis. And one must not overlook the lovely beaches
in the region – Distomo Beach, Andikira, Aghios Issidoros,
Vathi Avlidas, Faros, Sarandi Beach – which, whether sandy
or pebbly, offer superb bathing conditions.
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