Locating the complete single trail crossing between Delphi - Amfissa
Last month we finalised the necessary recordings to be included in the forestry study and completed the opening of the paths, incorporating Delphi into thesingle trail of the Pindos Mountain Range, connecting this world-renown emblematic location with the ancient olive groves of Amfissa and the majestic mountain of Giona. It was quite a taxing endeavour to manage and locate all these timeworn paths.
But also a deeply rewarding one, as with their correlation and inclusion they complete a notable day-long hiking section, which offers to the traveller a memorable two-way connection between Delphi and Amfissa. Admittedly, strictly speaking in geomorphic and geographic terms, the end of the range is actually located at the southern foot of Giona Mountain. However, we felt that having come so far, not to extend the trail by a few kilometers in order to include Delphi, would have been a great omission on our part.
In this place, uniquely situated on the arid rocks of Parnassos Mountain, stand our ancient monuments and a heritage which spans over millennia, the meeting point of Hellenism with the rest of the world. It is only befitting, therefore, to choose this as our starting point. As travelers and adventurers of present era, we dream and plan the opening of a new route, but also one which is based on the old tracks weighted by and loaded with history. It is journey of rediscovery and re-connection, a journey which aims to mend the severed ties between the heart of the country and the majestic spirit of its forgotten mountains.
In this place of worship of Goddess Earth, the Delphic flame will always burn slow in the souls of the romantic walkers of thought; from 19th-century European explorers seeking the lost treasures of the Greek Land, to Angelos Sikelianos and Eva Palmer’s vision for a modern revival of the enduring and universal values of Greek civilisation. Therefore, Delphi, both symbolically and semantically, must be the starting and end point for the single path which crosses the mountainous backbone of the country. Like a new Countryside Alliance, this project will unite the communities of Pindos whilst preserving their traditions and diversity, and connect them to present day in a sustainable and ecological way.
This is not an easy task by any means, and there are times when the plan’s implementation in preserving and promoting these old paths seems impossible. Today, the neglected, century-old routes, once used to serve the trade and movement of pedestrians and animals alike, have been replaced by modern highways, satisfying our seemingly insatiable craving for speed and ease in all aspects of our lives. There was a time when the site of Delphi itself was covered by an entire village, its ancient importance and archaeological value largely unrecognised, overlooked and all but forgotten.
We feel that is our duty to revive these paths and believe that their reopening will mark the beginning of a revival for the slow-dying mountain communities of Greece and their aging population. We envision walkers and travelers from all over the world
