Monemvasia is a Byzantine fortress city connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. A devastating earthquake in 375 drastically changed the geography of the region. The cape broke away from the mainland and became the island of Monemvasia.
The history of the area has deep roots. Previously Monemvasia was mentioned as the Cape of Acra Minoa. The first settlements of the Peloponnese were organized here, and during the sea voyages Acra Minoa played the role of an important staging post. After the earthquake, people did not leave the island where the locals hid from the raids of the conquerors.
For centuries, Monemvasia was a battle of the powers. The city's strategic position kept the Franks, Byzantines, and Turks busy. The Franks conquered the Byzantine Empire in 1204, but Monemvasia remained undefeated for 40 years. The XIII century was a period of prosperity of the city. New churches were opened in it, and the number of inhabitants approached 8,000.
Monemvasia was the last of the Byzantine fortresses to fall in 1463. But surprisingly, in 1821 it became the first fortress in the Peloponnese to be liberated by brave Greek rebels. The event was decisive in getting rid of the Ottoman occupation. After 1828 Monemvasia became the provincial center of the newly formed Greek state.
At the beginning of the 20th century many inhabitants moved from the lower town to the new settlement of Gefira - it was founded on the mainland and connected with the island by a bridge. And the city-fortress for a long time remained in disrepair. Now it is hard to believe that partially dismantled for building materials, it was nevertheless restored. And many structures have even turned into luxury hotels.
Monemvasia is officially divided into Upper Town and Lower Town, each of which is attractive in its own way. The upper part can be reached by a narrow path. Once at the top, tourists enjoy the panoramas and then explore the only building that has survived. This is the Church of St. Sophia of the XII century, located on the edge of the cliff. Under the Turks it was converted into a mosque, but in the XX century it was restored. There used to be 500 buildings in the Upper Town during its heyday.
The lower part of Monemvasia is a medieval city full of life. It is divided in half by the main street. There are craft shops, souvenir shops and cafes. You can spend an hour or two enjoying the views and tasting the local cuisine. It's also worth sampling the Malvasia wine. For more than 5 centuries it has been exported to many countries around the world. The main street leads to the central square, on which stands the cathedral of Christos Elcomenos. The main street leads to the central square with the Cathedral of Christ Elcomentos, which was founded in the 13th century and later rebuilt by the Venetians in the 17th century.
Opposite stands a mosque, converted into the Archaeological Museum. Its collection consists of artifacts found during the restoration of the city-fortress. Particularly noteworthy are the sculptures from the Church of St. Sophia and the ceramics that the inhabitants of Monemvasia used in everyday life several centuries ago.
A favorite activity of tourists in Monemvasia is to walk through the ancient streets buried in flowers. The houses form a kind of labyrinths, where you can spend time interesting. For example, you might find yourself at the house of Yannis Ritsos, wandering through the vaulted alleyways and admiring the preserved mansions.
Every year the number of those who want to see this jewel of the Peloponnese steadily increases, because modern Monemvassia gives the opportunity to rest surrounded by history. The beaches are close by and can be reached in a few minutes if you wish and the infrastructure of the city is continually developing.
