Cultural destinations

11 km. from Vagonetto, Gravia village is renowned for its Khani (Inn), the famous Gravia Inn. The visitor can watch a representation of the historical battle of May 8, 1821, one of the most important moments of the Sacred War of Independence that rescued the Greek Revolution at its very first steps. The recently renovated building, an accurate copy of the old Khani in real size, is situated directly opposite its original position and the Odysseas Androutsos monument. Monitors have been suspended, where representation scenes from the battle that took place in the spot in 1821 are screened.

The archaeological site of Delphi, with the panhellenic sanctuary and oracle of antiquity, is situated approximately 35 km. SW of Vagonetto. It includes the temple of Apollo, the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, the theater, the stadium, the Kastalia fountain etc. Also, in the renovated museum of Delphi the visitor can admire the finds from the archaeological excavations of the site (i.e. the bronze statue of the charioteer, the renowned omphalos stone, the statues of Cleobis and Biton, etc.).

When approaching Chaeronea by road from Levadeia, the first thing one sees is a marble pedestal with a giant lion facing the road as if greeting the visitors; the statue is surrounded by cypress trees.

The lion’s expression is somber, almost sad. In the past, many interpreted his countenance as an expression of sadness for the decimation of the Sacred Band of Thebes, the city-state’s elite military unit.

The monument was erected a few decades after the Battle of Chaeronea, fought in 338 B.C., to mark the common grave in which according to tradition the slain members of the Sacred Band were interred when Philip of Macedon allowed the Thebans to bury their dead. Excavations started at the end of the 19th century, and in the early 20th century they led to the discovery of the skeletons of 254 men together with part of their armament.

Source: Municipality of Chaeronea

The Museum of Chaeronea

The Museum’s exhibits are most significant and include, among others, sculptures from Levadeia and Chaeronea (the goddesses Cybele, Demetra [Ceres] and Athena [Minerva] Cranea, a portrait of the Roman Emperor Hadrian, a stone sphere bearing the figures of the Sun and Moon in bas-relief), pottery from prehistoric and historic sites in the Chaeronea area, Elati, Orchomenos, Exarchos and Agioi Theodoroi of Antikyra, fragments of Myceanean frescoes from Orchomenos, coins and weapons from the tomb of the Macedonians as well as from the Thebans’ Polyandrium (Sepulcher) in Chaeronea.

In the Museum’s courtyard one can see a large number of engravings and grave stelae, architectural members from large temple structures and pedestals from Chaeronea, Levadeia, Elateia, Koroneia, Dauleia, Agios Vlassios and Distomo.

Worth mentioning is also a mosaic floor from the 3rd century A.D. with a rich geometric decoration in bands (strips, rhomboids, intersecting circles, spirals and meanders) as well as the personifications of the four Seasons.

In the courtyard one can also see an important burial monument from the 2nd century A.D. (an above-ground tomb or small mausoleum with reliquaries and a mosaic floor), discovered in the late 19th century, during the excavation of the burial ground to which the famous Lion belongs; it was again the focus of research in 1990.

Excerpts from an article by archaeologist Eleni Kountouri

The Amfikleia Bread Museum was created with the support of the Hellenic elleniHellehEhFolklore Research Center of the Academy of Athens and is housed in the Cultural and Educational Center of the Municipality of Amfikleia. It is the only single subject museum of its kind in Greece.

Source: www.breadmuseum.gr, in Greek only

On the way to the town, one is impressed by the traditional hamlet of Charmaina (the whole village is on the Greek Heritage List); it was the neighborhood of tanners and tanneries of old, where artisans processed the hides, dyed and then dried them.

On 27 September 2011, the hamlet was presented with the EDEN 2011 Award, as one of a total of 21 European Destinations of Excellence that distinguished themselves in 2011 in a project launched by the European Commission to promote sustainable tourism.

Tannery and the trade of leather goods prospered during the first decades of the Ottoman period and were important factors that contributed to the area’s prosperity. Another structure of interest is the Toulassidi, a building where the tanners washed the hides in the water of a spring.

The area has been configured so that it can host art exhibitions, including often by local artists, concerts and theatrical productions. In the same area one can also find a pottery workshop run by Voula Daskalopoulou and a painting workshop run by Giorgos Skylogiannis.

The legend of the gnome, the protector of tanners, is closely associated with Charmaina. The re-enactment of the “struggle of gnomes” takes place every year, on the last Saturday of Carnival (Apokria, the period before Lent).

Source: Region of Central Greece

With the construction and operation of this Center, inaugurated in August 2010, by the Municipality of Lamia, a new page in the history and development of the area of Thermopylae, the city of Lamia, the Prefecture of Fthiotida (Phthiotis or Phthia) and the Region of Central Greece (Sterea Hellas) has been turned.

The operation of such a center in the Thermopylae archaeological area goes beyond offering information and fulfilling a historical obligation: it constitutes a leap in the development of one of Greece’s most historic localities.

The Museum, with an area of about 850 square meters, adopts the use of cutting-edge digital technology so that visitors – belonging to any social group, since there are special features for children and students, for adults and for the elderly– can learn more about the ancient times and the famous Battle, about the impact and the timeless universal appeal of that great historical event.

Source: www.lamiareport.gr, in Greek only.