Description of Boeotia
The region of
Boeotia is famous for its close proximity to the capital of
Athens and the gorgeous natural landscapes alongside with the rich history and culture on the way to worldwide famous site of
Delphi. One of the most famous venues for winter excursions is the traditional village of
Arachova situated on the slopes of Mount
Parnassos and one of the largest
ski centers in
Greece. The region of
Viotia offers
hotels,
restaurants, traditional taverns and impressive views to mountains, villages, rivers and towns like
Livadia,
Distomo,
Zemeno.
Geography of Boeotia
Boeotia or
Viotia as it is pronounced in Greek is a region situated in the east part of the
Central Greece and its neighbouring regions are
Attica to the south,
Fthiotida to the north,
Euboea to the west and
Fokida to the east overlooking to the Corinthian Gulf of
Peloponnese to the south. The region of
Viotia spans an area of 2.952 sq. km. and a total population of 130.768 inhabitants. The capital city of the region is
Livadia and the second largest city is Thebes or
Thiva. The region is surrounded by mountains: Mount Parnassus in the west, Mount Helicon in the southwest, Kithairon in the south and Parnitha in the east. The plain of Copais was a large lake in the center of
Boeotia that was drained in the 19th century.
History of Boeotia
The region of
Viotia is the birthplace of some of the most important and well known myths and legends of Greek Mythology:
Oedipus met his fate here, Semeli gave birth to god
Dionysus and the ancient oracular shrine of Trophonius is located in
Viotia related to the old chthonic religion, older than the
Greek Pantheon of Olympian Gods. Because of the significant geopolitical role of
Viotia, the region has played a crucial role in history is the 4th century BC and has been the battlefield of some of the most known battles of history:
Thermopylae,
Plataea,
Tanagra,
Chaeronea. The decline of the region comes after the destruction of Thebes by Alexander the Great and then
Viotia passes under Romans and Byzantines. The heroic and brave past of Boeotians revived in 1821, in the Greek War of Independence and it was one of the first parts to form the new State of
Greece.
Sightseeing in Boeotia
The rich history of the region is evident on the numerous ruins of ancient temples and the legends born here. Most of the places are still named after the same names described in myths and legends. The ancient ruins in
Orchomenos are of great importance, while the region offers great natural landscapes and traditional local products. The modern city of
Livadia is built by the river banks of Erkynas River and is a must for the local cuisine.
Arachova is a traditional mountainous village close to the
Ski Center of Mount Parnassos and with lots of hotels and restaurants.
Useful Phone Numbers in Boeotia
Police of Livadia: +30 22610 88880
Hospital of Livadia: +30 22620 28111
Bus services in Thebes: +30 22620 27512
Railway in Livadia: +30 22610 28661
Ski centre of Parnassos: +30 22340 22373, 22340 22693-5
