Arahova is a mountain town hanging on to the Parnassos slopes, with an intensely traditional flavour, picturesque houses, and the Byzantine monastery of Ossios Loukas to the east of it. Thiva is a modern town built n fertile plain, with archaeological signifiance (ancient Thebes) and Byzantine churches. Imposing mountains, beautiful deserted beaches or cosmopolitan resorts and mountain villages swamped by plane and acorn trees, are to be found in the district of Fthiotida.The commercially busy district capital, Lamia, is built on the pinewooded southwestern slopes of Mt. Othrys, close to the river Sperhios. To the southeast of Lamia is Thermopiles known since antiquity for its spas and the last stand of three hundred Spartans against a horde.