The Municipality of Arachova belongs to the prefecture of Viotia including the town of Arachova. It occupies the northwestern part of the prefecture and bordering with the municipalities of Davlia, Distomo, the Community of Antikira and the prefecture of Fokida. It consists of a municipal district, the municipal district of Arachova which consists of three settlements, Arachova, Zemeno and Kalyvia of Livadi of Arahovi. The population of the municipality Arachova according to 2001 census is 4,180 people.

Arachova is a mountain town built on the southern slopes of Parnassos. It is a popular winter resort, thanks to the existence of Parnassos Ski Center and the short distance from Athens (about 160 miles).

FOKIDA

Fokida spreads in the heart of Roumeli, where the mountainous forts raise their snow-white peaks close to the sea-shores. It’s the place where the silvery – green of the olive groves alternate with rivers and narrow mountainous crossings.

Fokida is the land of the salty, covered with caper, sea-rock. The land of thyme and Phoenician junipers.

It is the land of wild pears and evergreen oaks, of firs and resistant stinking junipers. Its people seem to be natural extension of the landscape. They are rough, well-organised, patient, satisfied with little and hard working people.

The land of Fokida spreads in an area of 2.122.000 sq kilometers. On the south it reaches the Corinthian bay. On the east its areas of Antikirra, Arahova and the peaks of Parnassos mountain are bounded by the administrative department of Viotia. On the north it steeply descends to the fertile valley of Viotikos Kiffisos river (at the areas of Polydroso, Gravia and Kastella) and is bounded by Fthiotida. On the NW it reaches southern Oeti mountain and northern Vardusia mountain. On the west, its boundaries with Nafpaktia are partly defined by Mornos river, on the SW, mountains ridges with the forests separate Fokida from Nafpaktia.

Fokida includes twelve municipalities : Amfissa, Desfina, Galaxidi, Parnassos, Lidoriki, Gravia, Tolofona, Efpalio and Vardousia.

Amfissa is the capital city of Fokida while Itea and Galaxidi are important towns. Desfina, Efpalio, Eratini, Polydroso, Krokylio, Mavrolithari, Gravia and Delphi are capital villages with significant history, culture and economic life. You can get to Fokida taking the route of Livadia – Arachova – Delphi – Amfissa or through Livadia – Desfina – Itea.

PARNASSOS

Parnassos mountain rises on the east of Fokida. Its high summits Liakra (2457m), Gerontotavros, Tsakros etc. belong to the departments of Fthiotida and Voetia. Hoewer, the western complex of the mountain and a considerable part of the National Park belong to Fokida. Parnassos meets Ghiona mountain at the neck of Amphiali, known as 51, over the crossing to Lamia. Ghiona’s solid bulk is situated in the heart of Fokida. Between the two mountains a deep, fertile valley spreads, ending up, on the south, at the Coronthian bay. It is the valley of Amfissa, covered with olive groves and known in antiquity as Krisseo Pedio (the land of Krissa).

The main part of the valley spreads between Itea, Chrisso and Amfissa. However, some of its brunches, lead, along Plistos river, towards Delphi and Arachova while others to the villages Elaeonas, Droshochori and Viniani. A unique Greek landscape is thus created, directly connected to the historical environment and the archaeological site of Delphi. The not easily-accessed solid bulk of Ghiona mountain spreads over a wide extent. Many slopes and small plateaus describe the mountain. Two big ravines, Rekka and Lazorema contribute to its impressive natural beauty. Rekka deeply cuts the eastern body of Giona in length of 12 km. Lazorema sinks steeply at the western part of the mountain, below its highest summits, over a front of gigantic cardinal cliffs and rocks. On the west, the complex Giona is bounded by the narrow valley of Mornos river (ancient Dafnos) which separates it from Vardusisa mountain. The southern part of Giona consists of waterless, uncultivated land with sparse vegetation, as well as rocky mountains of a medium altitude ending up at the shores of Galaxidi and Eratini.