Distomo - Parnassos Greece
On the National Motorway, (Athens - Livadia - Delphi), 140 km from Athens
is the famous city of Distomo. Built at an altitude of 450m, it comprises
of 6 hills that end up into a small valley. 
Distomo
is surrounded by rough and smooth slopes, and it is this combination of
the rugged mountain with the calmness of the Corinthian sea that make this
a very beautiful region.
There is evidence that Distomo was occupied through many centuries. Three
tombs from the pre-Mycenaean period were unearthed, and gave proof that
Distomo has been occupied from about 1500 BC.
During this era, there was a city on the coast of the Corinthian Sea named
Medeon. This city was mentioned by Homer in the Iliad. Distomo during the
pre-classical era was very developed and was actually named Ambrossos, after
the hero and King of the city, Ambrissea.
In 338 BC, during the Holy War, Phillip of Macedonia destroyed the city,
and it was not until many years later that it was rebuilt. In 198 BC, during
the Byzantine era, the Romans took control of the city. This port-serving
city was a very important junction for traders and travellers. During the
10th century, Distomo became bishopric, meaning that the head church was
based there.
During the revolution against the Turkish occupation, the city was the location
of one of the most important battles that took place, involving Georgios
Karaiskakis. His actual command headquarters has been preserved well and
is still there today.
The English traveller "Clarce", who referred to the big fire in
1803, made 
another
reference to the city. He particularly states that the fire was started
by a group of Turks, who he had met, a little time previously at Delphi.
During more recent times, and specifically the second World War, Distomo
is again the subject of fame, but this time due to the cruelty of the Germans,
who, in only 2 hours, killed 218 people, including babies, and old men and
women. This was the largest massacre that took place in Greece during the
second World War.
If you take a peek into the small chapels window, you will see the horrific
image of many of the skulls of the victims, each labeled. This grim image
truely brings to life the tragic events that took place on the darkest day
in the recent history of Distomo.
On the 10th June 1944, this mass murdering became known all over the world,
and has been written into the book of World History. At Canalles Hill, you
can see the mausoleum in memory of the victims of that dark day.
After the plan "Kapodistrias" was put forward, which revolved
around the connecting of small villages and municipalities into one larger
municipality, Distomo became connected with the village of Stiri, and formed
one municipality.
