Monemvasia

The entrance to the old city

Monemvasia is maybe the most well known castle-city in Greece. It's situated about 290 km from Athens and you can reach it with a car in about 3,5 hours. Looking at a map you can find it in the right ''leg'' of Peloponnese region. Starting from Athens you follow the national highway to Korinthos-Tripoli and when you reach outside Tripoli you leave the highway following the exit towards Sparti. When you pass Sparti you go on for about 15 km until you see the signs to Monemvasia (You shall see a bridge over the road at this point). From there you have to drive for about 70 km to reach Monemvasia.
This beautiful fortified ancient city is built on a small island which is connected with the rest of Peloponnese with a small bridge. Both the fortified city and the village outside the walls are called Monemvasia.
If you book a hotel room inside the walls you must be prepared to pay more and leave your car outside the city. This could be a problem if you carry too much baggage. On the other hand staying on the village outside the walls is in my opinion better, as you are close to the old city and you make your life easier at the same time. Especially on a very hot summer day (something which isn't rare there) believe me........you wouldn't like to search for your hotel on foot while holding a suitcase.
Of course I have to admit that the old city inside the walls is far more beautiful than the village outside.





Monemvasia from inside the walls

Once you are inside the walls you feel like going back centuries. Take your time to wander the cobblestone alleys and feel free to get lost! The city isn't so big so eventualy you will find your way back. All around you can see many churches (some of them really old) and in my opinion you should climb the steps and uphill root that reaches the higher spot of the city where the church of Agia Sofia (Holy Wisdom) is. The view from there is simply breathtaking. You not only see the whole city from above but your gaze is captured by the endless blue of the sea. Of course you should wear the right shoes and be prepared for approximately a 15 minute difficult walk.
Monemvasia was the place of living of Yiannis Ritsos. Ritsos was a great Greek poet and his house can still be seen inside the walled city. Outside his house you can see his marble bust.

The house of Yiannis Ritsos

After a long walk inside the city and especially if this walk was under the hot summer sun you can rest and have coffee or food in one of the cafes or restaurants. All these cafes and restaurants are also ancient houses or made like ones so as not to alter the city's character. Some cafes and restaurants are also outside the walls in the new city.

Cobblestone alley

One of the many ancient churches of the city

Cobblestone alley at night

Part of the new city with tavernas (restaurants) by the sea

As I mentioned before you can't go with a car in the old city and you have to park it outside the walls but if you don't go early in the morning you may not find a parking space. Maybe the best solution is to leave your car in the new city and take the local bus to go to the old city. It's less than five minutes drive. Closing this post I would like to remind you that if you are keen on making a tour around Peloponnese, Monemvasia surely deserves your attention!