Monemvasia in Peloponnese
Today, the visitor of Monemvasia has many things to see and many more to admire since the time they would enter the main gate of the castle town, which still bears on its iron sheets the marks by the bullets of some besiegers. The visitor arrives here from the bridge with the numerous arches following the road that leads to the south-eastern side of the rock, where the lower town is built with a view to the sea, while the upper town is now deserted.
As he approaches, the visitor senses a change in the overall atmosphere as is the fate takes him centuries back, to the mysteries of the Middle Age. Indeed, once the visitor leaves the car outside the castle and enters the main gate, everything changes. It is like the time has stopped. Narrow stone-paved streets, mansions, arches and Venetian blazons, Byzantine churches, houses with balconies, low arcades and stairs, battlements of the wall that touch the sea. The castle is in good condition, especially in the lower city. Its current form is the one after the restorations and the additions of Venetians and Turks on the foundations of Byzantines.
Strolling around the narrow streets, the visitor will come across a great number of churches – around forty churches have been counted. The most important and the largest is the church of Christ Elkomenos, the cathedral of Monemvasia, which is well known for the icon of Christ Elkomenos, which was removed by Isaak Angelos and transported to Constantinople.
The temple was founded in the 13th century by the Emperor Andronicos II Paleologus, but the current form was given by the Venetians in 1691. On the temple, in the place of the old icon, there is an icon of Elkomenos dating from 1700 and originated from the Ionian Islands. There is however a superb icon of the Crucifixion dating from the 14th century and two marble imperial thrones.
The main road, the shopping cobbled road is always full of colours and life, as the visitors go uphill passing by the tourist shops. There are only a few permanent inhabitants of the old city today; however, the restored houses always attract the interest of the visitors. Accommodation is provided by first class hotel units, which operate in traditional buildings. There is also the possibility for the visitor to stay in an old mansion, while there are places that cater for all different tastes in terms of food and recreation, combining the modern service offerings with the unique atmosphere of the town.
Other important churches, which they also combine Byzantine with Venetian elements, are those of Agios Nikolaos and Panagia Myrtidiotissa or Kritikia. The church of Panagia Chrisafitissa is the subject of many folk-tales, describing how the picture arrived here from Hrisafa, a village near Sparta. Also, it is worth visiting the churches of Agia Anna, Agios Dimitrios, Agios Stefanos and Agios Andreas. The large-domed building opposite to the church of the Elkomenos was, according to the tradition, the church of Agios Petros, bishop of Monemvasia. During the Turkish occupation it was a mosque and today it houses the local museum.
If one wants to see the upper town, it is time to take an uphill walk. At the top of the rock, on the plateau, one may see the ruins of the town: the fortified town, the walls, housings and guardhouses, large water tanks and the remnants of the residence of the Venetian Governor. At the eastern tip of the rock stands the most important monument of Monemvasia.
The church of Agia Sofia with an octagonal dome, like the churches of Dafni and Osios Loukas. It was built at the end of the 12th century and at the beginning of the 13th century by the Emperor Andronicos. Then, it followed the fate of the town, becoming a catholic temple during the Venetian occupation and a mosque during the Turkish occupation, when its wall paintings were covered with lime. However, neither the alterations not the time managed to distort its beautiful dimensions and its charm, or the magnificence of the interior, where few but very impressive wall paintings survive since its foundation period.
The double arch at the southern side reminds the churches of Mistras, and the view towards the sea can arrest the passage of time. Maginficent is also the view from the castle to the lower town, which goes on with its life, seducing its visitors who after the first visit they want to return again.
Unique, defeating the passage of time, an unparalleled picture at the charming eastern coast of Lakonia, combining the element of the Myrtoon sea, the medieval, Byzantine and Venetial fortress-town of Monemvasia, mounted on its isolated rock, offers generously its beauty to the thousands of visitors each year. No matter from which side one approaches the place: by land, following the national road of Sparta-Molaoi to the southeast, or by the sea by the ship connection of Piraeus-South Peloponnese-Kithira-Kasteli or by flying dolphin or by private yacht since the harbour of Monemvasia is one of the safest resorts.
Since then and for more than a thousand years Monemvasia experienced on the one hand days of prosperity and glory and on the other hand sieges and occupation. The information regarding its first centuries is scant. Due to its geographical position, it became a significant stop for the travellers of that period. In the middle of the 12th century, its brave resistance to a raid by the Normans has been recorded in the history. A century later the courage of its inhabitants and the naturally fortified position of the castle defeated the attempt of William Villehardouin to invade it. However, the town fell in 1249 because of hunger, after a period of siege of three years. Ten years later, William was taken prisoner by Michael Paleologus. And in return of his freedom he handed to the emperor the castles of Monemvasia, Mystras and Maini.
Monemvasia is 95 km from Sparta. The 300m high rock, on which it is built, is connected to the coast by means of a low bridge. ‘Gefyra’ (which means bridge) is the second name of Nea Monemvasia, the new town which lies opposite to the castle town, modern and lively all year through, offering all tourist services by the seaside.
Byzantine once again, Monemvasia became naval and military base and was developed both economically and culturally. However it also became a constant target for pirates. The terrible attack of the Catalans in 1292 has become legendary. But as a result of the defence against the pirate raids, the inhabitants of Monemvasia became themselves quite competent at naval warfare.
source by lakonia.gr
