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Itea Town
Itea: Panoramic View |
Welcome to Itea!
Looking down the breathtaking view from Delphi, a city emerges out of the silver green of the olive groves carpeting the Crissaean Plain. This is Itea, a modern city, founded only in 1830, an important commercial and transportation center, port both to Delphi and Amfissa, capital of the Prefecture of Fokida.
Built near the Crissaean Gulf, it shares the Crissaean plain together with its neighboring town of Kirra. It is inhabited by 9,000 people and is fast improving on its tourist infrastructure: the yachts marina, built recently according to the most up-to-date standards, has an anchorage capacity of 250 yachts. Itea is built following the Hippodamean System of road planning. Broad streets and a number of squares give the feeling of relaxation. One can walk in the shade of trees that grow on the sidewalks.
A walk to the green hill of Aghii Anargiri is a favorite past-time for both visitors and permanent inhabitants. Promenades can be enjoyed along the long seaside walkways. Beaches are within easy reach, and people usually come down to Itea to take a swim after having visited the antiquities in mountainous Delphi or Amfissa. The "Trokantero" and "Miami" beaches, awarded with EU "Blue Flags," attract many swimmers, as do "Nafsika" and "Evaggelistria" beaches.
A series of big events take place in Itea, such as the "Acropolis" and the "Olympion" rallies, swimming contests of international prestige, congresses, etc. Several events - sport events (basketball, swimming, bicycle races), cultural events (Nautical Week, carnival celebration, concerts, etc.) entertain the local people and visitors year-round.
Since ancient Kirra today forms a single residential complex with Itea, we must make special mention of it here. Established by Cretan merchants, as early as the beginning of the third millennium B.C., it grew to become a very strong and important city by 1100 B.C., since it was the only access point to the Oracle in Delphi. According to Pausanias, it was walled and had temples to Leto, Apollo and Artemis. It had integrated port facilities, shipyards, and private buildings and reservoirs. We are uncertain of how Kirra was destroyed. It is rumored that it was ruined by a devastating earthquake in AD 740.
Kirra’s beaches are very good (Vrachakia beach is a very well organized one), and there is a camping center, traditional tavernas, and rooms for rent.
Itea: Kirra Port |
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Itea Town and Chrisso Village |
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Chrisso Village |
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Chrisso Village |
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Chrisso Village |
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