COURSES

Homegrown vacations in Greece: A creative way to travel in Greece and specially in Delphi "The Navel of the Earth". Here is the place to feel the nature, the clay, the water, the air, the pottery art. Meet people from all over the world, meet people from Delphi. Come to see the way we live, feel the power of the land, feel Polytropon. Polytropon art school was established in 1995 by Aristotelis Zisimou, It is the only which is situated in Delphi and one of the few in Greece wich undertakes the ancient Greek technique of making and decorating ceramic pottery.The complete process, from making the pottery on the wheel to the final detail, is done by the same person, not seen often anymore. The studio is located in Delphi. In a quaint traditional home style building and during the summer the yard is converted into an out-door studio. Most of the summer lessons take place outdoors.

The characteristics of ceramic art are: experience and time. Through our pottery courses we try to gain the greatest experience possible in the limit of 5 days (time that clay needs to change from terra to terra cotta).This activity might be a bit tiresome for some people. For this reason we provide a light program, including breaks, excursions to mountain Parnassos,"the Delphi mountain", the Korinthian gulf and the archaeological sites and museums of Delphi.You will also have plenty of free time to enjoy your holiday in Delphi.

Ceramic courses are purposely small (up to 8), making it ideal for people who want to visit Delphi and other places around Delphi and who would like to take part in this ancient Hellenic ceramic art experience, through a homegrown and alternative tourism and without the impersonal face and the exploitation of massive tourism.

 

Choose between 4 different courses:

A. The main course, is a 5 days program, (2-8 persons) always starts Friday afternoon, till Tuesday noon, see here the activities. Fee includes: tuition, materials, taxes one firing in electric kiln or woodfiring, dependent of the season. Moreover we offer: coffee breaks (enough snacks), two lunches (one barbeque in the yard of the workshop and one in the forest), two excursions (one to the mountain and one to the sea), a visit to archaeological museum and sites of Delphi.Evening meals and also lunches for the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th day are not included. Fee per person, is 730,00 € without residence. For your residence, book the hotel of your preference here and make a reservation separately.

*Kids under 18 years old, are acceptable only accompanying of parents, or school responsible teacher.
*Fee for kids is 20% less.
*Courses reservations are acceptable up to 14 days earlier.

B. One day courses (09:00 - 15:00), classes of 2-8 persons. April to end of June & September to end of October, see Here the activities. Fee per person, is 40,00 €. Fee includes: tuition, materials, coffee break, enough snacks, lunch.

*Course reservations are acceptable up to 1 day earlier.

C. Two hours presentation of making pottery by the ancient Greek technique. classes of 2-30 persons. Every afternoon (16:00 - 18:00). April to end of June & September to end of October. Fee per person, is 15,00 €.. Fee includes: tuition, enough snacks.

*Course reservations are acceptable up to same afternoon.

D. Combination of C.& B. You can follow the two hours presentation to learn theory in the afternoon and the next morning you take part at the one-day course and have some practice. Fee per person, is 55,00 €. Fee includes: tuition, materials, coffee break, enough snacks, lunch.

*Course reservations are acceptable up to same afternoon.

*For information regarding colleges, schools or other groups, more than 8 persons, contact us for a different program, prices and dates, at least 90 days earlier.

Responsible for the ceramic courses program is Aristotelis Zisimou.

Spoken languages: Hellenic,enough English, not enough French. I am sorry for those who speak a different language but I am willing to learn from you if you have the patience.

 

 

Some information about places around Delphi. Some of them we visit in our main (A.) courses.

The Corycian cave.

Corycian cave is situated at 1300 m. adove sea level, is very impressive in size.The cave was already in use in the late Prehistoric period. In antiquity it was devoted to the god Pan and to the Nymphs. On the neighboring slopes, orgies in honour of god Dionysus were organised by his priestesses, the Thyiads. It was subsequently used as a refuge. One can go all the way down in to the cave, wich has somme stalactites.

Galaxidi.

See some important information in this site.

Angelos and Eva Sikelianos museum.

 

The road that leads steeply uphill through the village of Delphi ends at the handsome stone-and-brick Sikelianos home, now a museum commemorating the work of the eccentric Greek poet Sikelianos and his equally eccentric American wife, Eva Palmer. An artist, writer, and ultimately costume designer, Eva helped her husband stage Greek tragedies in Delphi's theater in the 1920s and 1930s. The couple's attempts to revive the Pythian Games were not long-lived, but their desire to make use of Greece's ancient theaters had lasting effects, as all who have seen plays performed here or at the theater at Epidaurus know. Yoy can see Sikelianos's manuscripts and the beautiful costumes Eva designed. Few tourists visit this elegant home, which has spectacular views from most windows, cozy fireplaces, and the best bathroom in town. A pleasant place to spend an hour.

Sirmo's spring.

Sirmo's spring is a picturesque place located in mount Parnassos, the mountain of Delphi. Even during the summer this area is quite cool, bring a jacket!! It is close to the Kalania tableland, a place where most residents of Delphi spend their summers since1980.

Kroki.

 

Kroki is a place on the top of Delphi ruins at the beginning of the Delphi forest in mountain Parnassos. There we have a wooden house. The time is spent under the shadow of fir-trees having barbecue on the third day's excursion to mountain Parnassos.

The monastery of prophet Ilias.

Built on the peaceful wooded slopes of southwest Parnassos, 5 minutes by car from Delphi the monastery of Profitis Ilias offers a spectacular view to the Gulf of Corinth and the high peaks of the mountains of Fokida.
It was built in 1019 AD. It is surrounded by high walls and crennelations. It has been awarded the status of a historical scheduled building by the Greek state. The wood-carved icon-screen is a unique piece of traditional fretwork. It is now a monastic nunnery.

Delphi view.

Delphi landscape,in front the city of Chrissa and the olive grove, from the antiquity.

Departing from Delphi, you will miss this view.