The ancient Greeks considered Delphi the centre of the world, and to the modern visitor looking to travel beyond Athens, it should be the centre of any itinerary. The site lies on the southern slopes of the Parnassos Mountains, looking out over a wide valley filled with olive trees that falls away towards the coast. Even without the wonders of the ancient site, it would be unforgettable.

The Rock of the Sibyl, which stands on the spot where the oracle consulted, is marked to one side of the paved Sacred Way. This paths leads up through the site to the remains of the Temple of Apollo, which dates from the fourth century BC. The temple was discovered by French archaeologists exploring here only in 1892, and since then six of the temple’s fallen Doric columns have been re-erected to try to give a sense of grandeur of the building.