Background of Danae Stefanatou

Some years ago, my parents chose this place for our winter vacation. We all felt in love with the natural beauty and the peaceful atmosphere, thus we decided to built our country house there. Nowadays, I have a strong emotional bonding with this place. Every time I visit Agoriani, I feel like “I’m going home”.

 

Parnassos Through The Eyes of Danae Stefanatou

Unrevealed, majestic, craggy, magnificent, awesome, and the list never ends; could you describe Parnassos in five words?

Natural beauty, cozy and peaceful atmosphere, magical and unique view.

Undeniably, Parnassos is one of the most beautiful winter resorts of Greece. However, the majority of visitors seem to overlook the wider beauty of the region of Parnassos. Could you please advice the travellers of Mysterious Greece on the best things they can do during their stay in the region of Parnassos?

Take a walk to the paths of Parnassus Mountain, where you will have the opportunity to experience its true beauty, the magnificent views that it can offer to you, along with the unparalleled feeling of peace.

From the lovely square of Agoriani, the winter resort of Arahova and the Ski Center of Parnassos to the oracle of Delphi, the cave Korykion Andron and the monastery of Osios Loukas, the region of Parnassos hides millions of mysteries. If you had to choose your favorite location in Parnassos, what would that be?

I have been there once, and it was by accident. We were wandering in the mountain with a car and after a while we realized that we were lost. We were trying to find the way back, and suddenly we came across a small observatory, which was abandoned. We took the stairs and reached the top, there was a small terrace with a 360 degrees view; we sat there and observed the wild views and peacefulness of the place that we were lucky enough to find it! It was an amazing experience that I wish to all of the Mysterious supporters to come across!

Parnassos is one of the most famous winter resorts of Greece! Could you please give two to five reasons that the travelers of Mysterious Greece should travel to Parnassos?

1. Close to Athens, only 180 km from the capital of Greece!
2. Ideal place for short excursions!
3. Amazing traditional Greek cuisine!
4. Fascinating nightlife!
5. Nice slopes for skiing and snowboarding!

Although Parnassos is one of the most famous winter resorts of Greece, it has an unexplored side unknown to the majority of people. If you were going to give advice to the travellers of Mysterious Greece, where would you recommend them to go to acquire a complete image of the beauty of wider region of Parnassos?

You can visit Parnassus the whole year round either to visit the admirable ancient civilization and history of Delphi or simply to experience the natural beauty of Greece at its most serene atmosphere!

Not even one hour away from the traditional village of Arahova, you will find the famous oracle of Delphi, an UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece. Have you ever visited Delphi? If yes, could you please describe to us your experience?

I’ve been there recently and I must say that this place makes me feel proud about my ancestry. Delphi is the second most important archeological site in Greece. Through this place you can perceive the Greek history and the significance of the Ancient Greek civilization. “Many believe the place to have a special magic and report being moved spiritually when visiting Delphi.”

Concerning the gastronomic experience of Parnassos, could you please advice us two to five of your favorite taverns and restaurants?

• Niko’s Tavern, Greek traditional cuisine
• Le Sapin, French cuisine
• Panagiota restaurant, Greek cuisine
• Zacho’s Tavern, Greek cuisine

What’s your favorite sunset spot in Parnassos?

My favorite sunset spot is the top of the village Agoriani!

Please describe to us an unforgettable moment of yours in Nafplio!

Instead of the unforgettable moments, I tend to remember and be connected to the joyful moments. These are the ones that make me feel good about my life. Every Christmas, all the family is gathered in our sweet house and enjoy the companion of one another, along with the tremendous food cooked from the elders of the family. These joyful moments are the ones that I am waiting for and these are the ones that I will never forget. Hope the same holds for most of us.

According to your opinion, which is the must-visit monument in Parnassos?

The oracle of Delphi, which is only 40 minutes away from Arahova!

Describe to us your top 5 List for things to do in the region of Parnassos!

1. Ski or snowboard on the slopes of the Parnassus Mountain!
2. Have dinner in one of the many restaurants / taverns of the villages!
3. Enjoy the nightlife (many different options)!
4. Rent a quad and explore the Parnassus Mountain!
5. Talk to the locals, ask them about the region and the history of the area!

Share with us your mystery!

Parnassus, due to its historical value and role in ancient Greece has lots’ of unrevealed mysteries to discover…. Nothing obvious! Many hidden clues and secrets for centuries, ready to be revealed. Are you ready for this challenge? “Obscurum per obscurius” which means a mystery wrapped in an enigma. From my point of view, this is a fascinating and challenging game!

This space is just for you! Please feel free to add anything you think that was missing from the questionnaire!

I would like to clarify, that Parnassus is not only for winter vacation. Travelers should know that Parnassus has something to offer each time of the year and could satisfy even the most concerning travellers!!!