The castle or the rock of Monemvasia,
2000 years ago people
built up a town at the top of a 300 meter rock to be protected
from the barbarians. The Rock was separated from the mainland by
an earthquake in 337 AD and today the Monemvasia rock with its
castle is actually an island accessible only through an entrance
which many years ago used to be a portable, wooden bridge. This
causeway links Peloponessus with the Rock of Monemvasia.
The settlement is divided into two sections, built at different
levels, each with a separate fortification. They built their town
on top of the cliff (300m), and it was named upper town. Then
they built a neighborhood close to the sea also protected from
walls which was named lower town. The castle fall to the Franks
after 3 years of surrounding in 1249 but they gave it back to the
Byzantines in 1262 after the battle in Pelagonia. The Byzantines
kept it until 1460. Those two centuries where the golden ages for
Monemvasia. The Monemvasians where trading a sweet red whine
called Malvasia, produced from surrounding area. The people of
Monemvasia where very wealthy at that time due to the extensive
trading, the privileges they had from the emperors of
Kostantinoupolis (Istanbul), and due to the fleet they owned.
When Greece was occupied from the Ottomans (Turks) the
Monemvasians preferred to pass their town to the Venetians and
that was the first occupation by the Venetians, 1464-1550. During
that period the Venetians transplanted the wine Malvasia in
Crete, Italy and Malta where you may find this kind of wine with
small variations. The castle passed later to the hands of the
Turks. A small period of Venetian occupation followed again
1690-1715 and finally Monemvasia was liberated in 1823 during the
Greek revolution. Remains of numerous Byzantine and
post-Byzantine buildings are preserved in the area of the Upper
Town which is not inhabited today.
The first building when you enter Lower Monemvasia is a house of
Greek poet and writer Yannis Ritsos (1909 - 1990). He was born in
Monemvasia in the noble family of landowners. His grave is not
far from this house. More info about Ritsos: http://www.mikis-theodorakis.net/ritsos_e.html
Most of Monemvasia's residents today live by the port (Gefira), which is a modern town with supermarkets, travel agency, bus connections and other services. The Rock is about 2 km from the modern port of Monemvasia, about a 20-minute walk or a few minutes by car. Cars aren't allowed inside the walls of the old town and the parking is outside of the fortifications.
Most of the old town's buildings are made from stone, and many have been renovated as summer homes for Greeks and foreigners. It's a sunny town of tiled-roof houses, attractive shops and cafes, pleasant squares, and churches.
How to get there – By bus (290 km, +/- 5 hours):
Where to stay - Monemvasia
If you prefer to be inside the castle, then
Special
Comment: Busy and quickly full
in the summer, weekends and holidays - book your hotel in
advance.
You may contact us for a special rate.
What to see and do
After breakfast, walk up to the church on the edge of the cliff atop Monemvasia castle and try your hand at throwing a small iron or steel metal object to the sea (it will be drawn in towards the side of the hill, never reaching the sea, due to a magnetic field emanating from the rocks below).
Beaches: To the north and south of Monemvasia there are beaches 2-3 km from the causeway at Gefyra. Some well liked beaches slightly further away are at Plytra (20 km) and the stretch from Viglafia to Neapoli (35 kilomtres) both of which on the west side of the peninsula, across from Monemvasia. The island of Elafonisi has some of the more scenic beaches.
Archaeology: The Richia Museum of Folklore: Richia, about 25 km from Monemvasia in a building of 1875, which was the first school in the village. With farm tools, spinning wheels, clothing and woven items.
Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin and Agios Georgios of Gerakas near Gerakas village, founded in 19th century.
There are many caves within easy reach: Kastania - at Kastania Voion (south of Monemvasia near Neapolis).
Vri Cave is north of Monemvasia with a precipice which you can climb down. You can find the entrance on the south west side and there is a lake below with crystal clear water.
21 km farther a very neat place to visit is Porto Geraka, a small village which landscape reminds small Fiord of the south.
Where to eat & drink - Monemvasia
If want to stay close, choose one of the four tavernas in Monemvasia. Inside the castle there is the Cafe Angelo which is at night a bar and in the morning breakfast is served, with the sound of classic music and a wonderful view. There are also two cafes to enjoy your coffee.
The tavernas on the seafront, over the causeway, at Gefyra, offer good food at good prices. A little further in the new town of Monemvasia you must taste the octopus fried with Ouzo. As there is just one "main" street - only about 200 metres long - you will find the shops, cafes and restaurants in one stroll through the castle.