When you arrive at Galaxidi the first thing that strikes you is the quiet. The road into the picturesque coastal village at the foot of Mount Parnassus leads you to Nikolaos Mamas Square – named after a sea captain and local benefactor – and the main port. The fresh sea breeze, the cafes and tavernas lined up in a row, the fishing boats and yachts tied up in the marina, the people strolling on Pera Panta Hill and the beautifully renovated stately homes, once the residences of respected sea captains, compose a setting that is reminiscent of the castle town of Nafplio in the Peloponnese, but with a more tranquil and less commercialized character. Galaxidi's sailors traditionally painted the floors of their homes with that left over after painting their boats. Most of the old homes are two stories high, and the top floor was usually arranged in an open-plan design big enough to make space for sewing and mending the ship sails. Another charming detail is that most of Galaxidi's older homes have a piece of natural stone projecting from the basement or ground-floor wall. In some cases, the stone is displayed like a decorative feature in a guest room or bathroom. When night falls, there is a decent selection of places to eat or enjoy a drink, mainly at the port. Crazy partying just doesn't fit Galaxidi's quiet profile. It is much more suited to an early morning stroll on Pera Panta Hill, with the sea on one side and a pine forest on the other. Galaxidi is warm most of the year and gets little wet weather, which is why it is an ideal destination for a weekend break in autumn and early spring, or even winter. A weekend is enough to get to know Galaxidi to recharge your batteries. If there is one thing that makes this fishing village stand out from others, it is its unique sense of identity and the fact that, as the locals like to say, “it speaks with its silence.”