Amfissa
Amfissa is located in the northern part of the Crissaean Plain, at the foothills of Mount Elatos of Giona, at an altitude of 180 meters, while Mount Parnassos rises to the east. It lies west of Arachova (32 km), south–southwest of Lamia (approximately 72 km by road), west–northwest of Livadeia (70 km via Desfina) and Delphi, east–northeast of Nafpaktos (94 km), and north–northwest of Itea (13 km).
In earlier times, the inhabitants of Amfissa were engaged in professions such as tanning, bell-making, and rope-making, for which the town was once well known. Today, only a few artisans still practice these trades. Most of the local population is now involved in olive cultivation, as the area is surrounded by a vast, continuous olive grove known as the Crissaean Plain. This landscape produces the famous Amfissa olives and is protected as part of the Delphic Landscape.
According to Aristotle, who wrote that “Amfissa was so named because it is surrounded by mountains,” the town’s name derives from the verb amphiennymi (“to surround”), referring to its position between Mount Giona and Mount Parnassos. In mythology, the city is said to owe its name to Amfissa, daughter of Macar and granddaughter of Aeolus.
At the beginning of the 13th century, during the period of Latin rule in Greece, Amfissa was renamed La Sole by the Frankish conquerors and became known in Greek as Salona. Various interpretations exist regarding the origin of the name Salona, which remained in use until the end of Ottoman rule. After the liberation of Greece, the city officially regained its ancient name, Amfissa, in 1833.
