Under its medieval veil, perched on the shores of the Peloponnese, is the castle city of Monemvasia. The name of the city Monemvasia means unique entrance and the Franks called it Malvasia.


The "hidden" city is a huge Byzantine fortress on a rock, which tore off the land after a terrible earthquake hundreds of years ago, but there is a small islet 400 meters long that connects it with the old town of Laconia.

The poet, Giannis Ritsos, had called Monemvasia a "ship of stone", while some also called it "Gibraltar of the East", as it looks like a shrinking rock of Gibraltar.

Monemvasia is built on a rock with a unique access from the mainland, a narrow strip of land from which it got its name. Its natural location had made it an ideal refuge during barbarian raids.

The invasions of the Arabs and the Visigoths in the 6th century, forced the Laconians to seek refuge in the upper city of the rock, as it was an inaccessible place and offered for fortification. The castle later changed many hands, becoming Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, Ottoman and finally Greek, indelibly holding the marks of at least four civilizations.


ld well-preserved mansions with coats of arms and arches, heavy wooden doors, cobbled streets and about forty old churches, create a scene of peace and nostalgia. The idyllic Castle City of Laconia is divided into two parts: in Ano Poli, built on the plateau of the top of the rock, uninhabited today and in Kato Poli which is built on the southeast side of the rock. Both cities are surrounded by walls and communicate with each other with a staircase carved into the rock.

The Lower Town
The main cobbled path that starts from the gate of the Castle leads to the main square with the cannon, which looks like a large balcony overlooking the sea. There is the church of the Drawn Christ with rare icons, unique works of art, from which stands out that of the Crucifixion which was stolen and recently returned to the church after a long adventurous journey. It is now kept under strict security measures. In the central square is the Archaeological Museum, which was built in the 16th century and originally functioned as a mosque.

The poet Giannis Ritsos was born in Monemvasia and the main street bears his name.

It is worth a visit to the house of the great poet Giannis Ritsos, where his bust is located, right after the gate.


Another great church of Monemvasia is the stone Myrtidiotissa, which was built in 1690. The church owes its name to the icon of the Virgin Mary that was found in myrtles and was transported from the island of Kythera to Monemvasia. Later, the church was renamed "Panagia Kritikia" because in the 17th century many Cretans settled around it.


The Upper Castle
From the Lower town starts the uphill cobbled path that leads to Epano Kastro or Goula, the second uninhabited settlement. The view from the Upper Castle is magnificent, while it is worth a visit to the imposing church of Agia Sofia, which stands on the edge of the cliff, 300 meters above the Myrtos Sea. The church is one of the most important temples of the mid-Byzantine period throughout the Peloponnese. It was built in the 12th century and is considered a replica of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.


After the revolution of 1821 it was dedicated to the Wisdom of God, because it was considered a faithful copy of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. During the Turkish occupation, it was converted into a mosque, the "Fethiye" or "Sultan Suleiman".

The beaches of Monemvasia
Portelo, the small gate of the walls that opens to the sea, accepted the goods from the ships. Today is the cool break for summer travelers, as there is a diving platform. The closest solution for swimming is the beach of Gefyra, a large shallow sandy beach that you will encounter leaving the Castle on the right.

What visitor who passed through its gate, was not enchanted by its cobbled alleys, mansions with flowered wooden balconies and its medieval air?

Leaving the Bridge by car, 4 km north, is the beach Pori, a narrow sandy beach, overlooking the Castle, which is an attraction for sailboats. South, ten minutes from the Castle is the beach of Xifia, another beautiful sandy beach with crystal clear waters.

Source: Mixani Tou Xronou