Central Greece - Greece - page 378

( 22670 31917; mains €8-13; lunch & dinner) By the bridge, with a lovely view of the
tower, this basic, colourful spot whips up home fare, including good pites (pies) and
moussakas.
Taverna Karamalis TAVERNA $
(mains €5-14) The decor is tasteful, with olive-green rush chairs and views. Hilopites are
good here (though don't expect much beyond a tomato salsa). Good daily specials.
Taverna Panagiota TAVERNA $$$
( 22670 32735; mains €9-25; lunch Fri-Sun, dinner Thu-Sun, lunch & dinner daily winter) Un-
less you drive, it's a mere 263 steps up to this cosy, upmarket taverna behind Agios Ge-
orgios church. Tasty traditional Greek oven dishes fill the tables, and in winter there's al-
ways a fire going.
Information
The post office (Plateia Xenias) is near ATMs, and the entire village is a wi-fi hotspot.
Getting There & Away
The daily buses that run between Athens and Delphi stop at Arahova's Plateia Xenias
(€15.10, 2½ hours).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Moni Osios LoukasΜόνη Оσίου Λούκα
The World Heritage-listed monastery Moni Osios Loukas (Monastery of St Luke; 22670
22228; admission €3; 8am-6pm summer, to 5pm winter) is 23km southeast of Arahova,
between the villages of Distomo and Kyriaki. Its principal church contains some of
Greece's finest Byzantine frescoes. Modest dress is required (no shorts).
The monastery is dedicated to a local hermit who was canonised for his healing and
prophetic powers. The monastic complex includes two churches. The interior of the lar-
ger, Agios Loukas , is a glorious symphony of marble and mosaics with icons by Mi-
chael Damaskinos, the 16th-century Cretan painter.
In the main body of the church, the light is partially blocked by the ornate marble win-
dow decorations, creating striking contrasts of light and shade. Walk around the corner to
find several fine frescoes that brighten up the crypt where St Luke is buried.