Boeotia

Viotia - Central Greece (Greece)

Prefecture Viotia (Boeotia or Beotia). Prefecture Viotia is located between the Gulf of Euboea and the Corinthian gulf, west of prefecture Attica. It is a mountainous area with lots of traditional villages, many green forests and beautiful beaches.

Capital of Viotia is Levadia (Livadia). Levadia is located 135 km from Athens. The city is built between two hills at the edge of a gorge where the sources of Erkina flow.

On top of one of the hills, Profitis Ilias, is a well-preserved 14th century castle. In ancient times was it known as Levadia Mideia and was the site of the famous oracle of Zeus Trofonios.

Levadia is very fertile thanks to the abundant water in the region and the two sources in mythology "Lethe" (forgetfulness) and "Mnemosyne" (remembrance) were called. The Passover is celebrated here in a very colourful way, the city is then turned into a sort of open-air barbeque when lamb cooked on the spit is widely eaten. Music, folk dancing and parties that last all night, make the traditional Easter festivities in Levadia complete.

In ancient times Viotia was called ‘Tristhalatto’ because it bordered onto 3 seas, the North Euboean Gulf, the South Euboean Gulf and the Corinthian Gulf.

Viotia is a prefecture that is very popular in the winter because of the Parnassos ski centre. A very nice resort here is Arachova.

Sights in Viotia (Boetia or Beotia)

• The village Cheronia with very significant archaeological sites. This is the birthplace of Ploutarchos (Plutarch). Plutarch was a Greek historian.
• The Byzantine monastery of Osios Loukas, one of the most religious centres since the time of the Ottoman rule.
• The town Platees where the Greeks in antiquity have achieved a significant victory against the Persians.
• The village of Distomo and the beach Antikira and Aspra Spitia in the Corinthian gulf.
• Beach Sarandi.
• The Parnassos ski center: a very beautiful, well organised ski center.
• The ruins of ancient Avlida where Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Ifigenia to the Goddess Artemis.
• Arahova (Arachova), one of the most famous mountain villages in Greece. Arahova might be the most popular winter destination in Greece

Ο Νομός Βοιωτίας ήταν ένας από τους 51 νομούς της Ελλάδας, ενώ από το 2011 αποτελεί την Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Βοιωτίας, μία από τις 74 περιφερειακές ενότητες της χώρας και υπάγεται διοικητικά στην περιφέρεια Στερεάς Ελλάδας. Έχει έκταση 2.954 τ.χλμ. και πληθυσμό 105.472 κατοίκους, σύμφωνα με την Απογραφή του 2011.