Greek Islands

Monemvasia Town

Monemvasia

This extraordinary site on a rocky peninsula off the southeastern coast of Peloponnese was originally founded in 583 A.D.. Over the centuries, a variety of rulers occupied this inhospitable rock, from the Byzantine Empire, to the Venetians, to the Ottomans, and finally to the Greeks in 1821. The ruins of the original city are situated at the top of the rock, about 350 meters above sea level. Monemvasia has often been referred to as the ‘Gibraltar of Greece.’

Once connected to the mainland of Peloponnese, prior to the founding of the city, an earthquake in 375 A.D. detached the rock from the mainland, where it remained isolated until the 6th century, when a rocky bridge was built reconnecting the "island" to the rest of the Peloponnese. The town was constructed in two parts, the upper and the lower, often referred to as uptown and downtown.

As was the usual case with fortress-style settlements, the wealthy lived at the top, and the poor at the bottom. The town continued to be inhabited through the 19th century, but then quickly became abandoned due to lack of water. It was only when a proper bridge was constructed in 1971 that the populace began to return. The 1990s experienced a period of robust restoration and renovation, and the downtown section of the city was once again inhabited, though the population is quite small. These restored Venetian-style houses sit beneath the ruins of the uptown section, creating one of the most dramatic and beautiful settings to be found in the region.

Of special interest, in addition to the ruins of the uptown section and the restoration of downtown, there is an interesting church dating to the 13th century, which is well worth your interest. The Church of Agia Sofia sits on the top of the rock, right at the edge, and has an amazing view over the sea.

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