Mystras occupies a steep foothill on the northern slopes of Mt.
Taygetos, 6km. NW of Sparta. The Frankish leader William II de
Villeharduin founded the castle on the top of the hill in 1249.
After 1262 it came under Byzantine control, and at the middle
of the 14th century became the seat of the Despotate of Moreas.
In 1448 the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI Palaeologos,
was crowned at Mystras. For a short period Mystras came under
the control of the Venetians (1687-1715) but was again taken over
by the Turks. It was one of the first castles of Greece to be
liberated in 1821.
The most important monuments of the site are: The Castle.The Cathedral
of St. Demetrios Church of Saints Theodore. Church of Our Lady
Hodegetria .Church of Aghia Sophia . Monastery of Our Lady Peribleptos.
Church of Our Lady Evangelistria (of the Annunciation). Monastery
of Our Lady Pantanassa.
Palaces of the Mystras Despots (Kantakouzenoi and Palaeologoi).
Urban buildings.
( Castle of Monemvasia )
Monemvasia occupies a steep, rocky islet connected to the Laconia
coast by a bridge. The inhabitants of Laconia founded the settlement
in the 6th century A.D.. After a short domination of the Popes,
the Venetians captured the area in 1464. In 1540 the Turks occupied
it and its decline became more evident. In 1690 it was given over
to the Venetians and in 1715 was recaptured by the Turks. It was
the first among the fortified towns of the Peloponnesian to be
liberated by the Greeks in 1821.
The most important monuments of the site are: The settlement,
which is divided into two sections, built at different levels,
each with a separate fortification. Remains of numerous Byzantine
and post-Byzantine buildings are preserved in the area of the
Upper Town, which is not inhabited today.
Church of Aghia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) at the Upper Town. Lower
Town. Church of Christ Helkomenos Domed, three-aisled basilica
with a barrel-vaulted roof, a narthex, a built synthronon, and
an episcopal throne. Significant portable icons of the post-Byzantine
period are preserved in the interior. Moslem Mosque.
( Strofades Islands )
Strofades islands have their unique place in Greece's past and present.
They are a very important place as a natural ecosystem, since they
are one of the stations for the migration of birds from the African
continent to the European and Asiatic migration routes. So, one
here could find, several hundreds of birds, of most kinds, as well
as an amazing variety of wild flora. These two very small islands
have also a great past since they were an outpost for the Byzantine
Empire, with a fortress Monastery and a great monastic society.
Today Strofades islands made news again because of the slaughter
of thousands of migrating birds by hunters from Zakinthos and elsewhere.
This documentary had as purpose to help stop this massacre. It was
aired in National Television three times, in a period of six months,
and now the hunting on the islands is forbidden and the Coast Guard
protects the islands.
