#1. Delphi
If the Ancient Greeks hadn’t chosen Delphi (from delphis, womb) as their navel of the earth and built the Sanctuary of Apollo here, someone else would have thought of a good reason to make this eagle’s nest of a village a go-to tourist attraction.
Its cliffside location is spectacular and, despite its overt commercialism and the constant passage of tour buses through the modern village, it still has a special feel. Ancient Delphi and the adjoining village of Delphi) is 178km northwest of Athens.
Of all the archaeological sites in Greece, Ancient Delphi is the one with the most potent spirit of place. Built on the slopes of Mt Parnassos, overlooking the Gulf of Corinth and extending into a valley of olive trees, this World Heritage site’s allure lies both in its stunning setting and its inspiring ruins. The Ancient Greeks regarded Delphi as the centre of the world – according to mythology, Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world and they met here.