The seaside town of Galaxidi, located on the Gulf of Corinth just a few minutes from Ancient Delphi, has a rich maritime history dating back 4,000 years. The city's name is renowned throughout Greece for it's ship building history, it's participation in the fight for Greek independence and in it's beautiful architecture and picturesque surroundings.
Historical records show the town of Galaxidi in it's current location in the 8th century BC. Over the next eight centuries it grew to become a well-established maritime town with it's own fleet of sailing ships. Through those years Galaxidi suffered and struggled through the Ottoman occupation (mid-15th century to 1829), the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), and frequent invasions, including pirate attacks, but the couragous citizens always managed to prevail and survive. By 1813 Galaxidi was already the fourth biggest harbour of Greece in naval and commercial activity.
During this period important masters of the naval art migrated to the town and later undertook the initiative for the foundation of a distinctive Maritime Academy. From 1829 to the early 1880s Galaxidi enjoyed enormous commercial growth and the prosperity of residents is still reflected in the large, well-preserved stone mansions of the sea captains that have become an attraction for hundreds of visitors each year.