Monemvasia Things to Do

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The one building remotely still standing is the Ayia Sofia - the 13th century church built in a commanding position looking out to the open sea of the edge of a precipice. Founded as a monastery by Andronikos II, many of the smaller out buildings are little more than foundations, but this is more than made up for it by the chapel - and that extraordinary location.

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High above the Lower Town is what was, originally, the larger section of Monemvasia. A steep climb up narrow, medieval steps will bring you onto the vast plateau that was once a thriving town. Now completely ruinous (the last residents descended to the lower town in 1911) with the notable exception of church of Ayia Sofia, a true indication of its extraordinary location is to peer (carefully) over the edge to the Lower Town below and the Peloponnese mainland in the distance.

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Built by the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II Comnenus in 1293, this great vaulted church is the largest medieval church in southern Greece. Dedicated to Christ in Chains, unusually it was allowed to function as a Christian place of worship following the occupation by the Turks in 1540. It is the largest and most dominant building in the Lower Town.

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The largest open space within the village is the beautiful Platia Dzamiou (the square of the mosque).

Not surprisingly, considering the name, there is a mosque in the square (Ayios Petros - converted from a church into a mosque following the Turkish occupation) as well as the Mitropolis Hritsos Elkemenos.

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Once across the causeway from the new town on the mainland (Yefira), the town of Monemvasia will finally come into view - a crenallated, imposing wall and gateway. No vehicles can get beyond the gate - beyond is a miasma of narrow alleyways, restored and derelict buildings almost piled one on top of each other (this feeling aided by the very steep terrain upon which the town is built). Its worth simply wandering off the main alley - it would be wrong to say 'get lost' in the alleys as the place is so small you won't be lost for long!-:)

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An extraordinary sea journey along the east coast of the Peloponnese from Hydra (and Piraeus) takes you past small villages settling below the sheer cliffs, a few accessible only by water. First view of Monemvassia provides little in terms of the reality of the 'Gibralter of Greece'. An isolated island on the horizon looms in front of you - it's not until you virtually reach the docking point of the ferry at Yefira on the mainland and have 'passed round' from the seaward side to the land side that the monolithic rock makes its presence felt.

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Lately in Monemvasia's beaches every summer take place beach parties usually in the 15th of august and after...Young people organise it with music and drinks...Every year those parties get even better and more organised...
WE ARE WAITING ALL OF YOU THIS SUMMER...

This is the East gate into the fortified ancient town of Monemvasia. The gate is staggered so that there was no clear run into the city slowing down and confusing any invading forces. On peering in, it appears only as a long dark tunnel.