Malvasia

Monemvassia Μονεμβασία
Monemvasia
Location
Monemvasia
Coordinates	36°41′N 23°3′E / 36.683°N 23.05°E / 36.683; 23.05Coordinates: 36°41′N 23°3′E / 36.683°N 23.05°E / 36.683; 23.05
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	Peloponnese
Prefecture:	Laconia
Population statistics (as of 2001[1])
City
- Population:	4,660
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	15 m (49 ft)
Postal:	230 70
Telephone:	27320
Auto:	ΑΚ

Monemvassia (Greek: Μονεμβασία, Μονεμβάσια, Μονεμβασιά), and known by the Franks as Malvasia, is a well-known medieval fortress with an adjacent town, located on a small peninsula off the east coast of the Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia. The peninsula is linked to the mainland by a short causeway 200m in length. The ruins include the defensive structures and many Byzantine churches. The town's name derives from two Greek words, mone and emvassia, meaning "single entrance". Many of the streets are narrow and fit only for pedestrians. The bay of Palaia Monemvassia is to be found to the north. Monemvassia's nickname is the Gibraltar of the East or The Rock. The rock is 300 m tall and 1.8 km long.

Geography

The town itself is situated to the south-east of the rock, and overlooks the Palaia Monemvasia bay. A small hamlet with about 10 houses lies to the northwest.

History

Middle Ages

Map Made by F. de Witt, Amsterdam, 1680.

The founding of the town and fortress of Monemvassia most probably occurred in the 6th century AD. The town was founded in 583 by people seeking refuge from the Slavic and the Avaric invasion of Greece. From the 10th century AD, the town developed into an important trade and maritime centre. The fortress withstood the Arab and Norman invasions and conquests in 1147. Cornfields that fed up to 30 men were grown inside the fortress.

It was a Byzantine town that existed continuously under the domain of the Empire until 1460, when it was sold to the Pope by the Despot of Morea Thomas Palaiologos (in 1464 the Pope sold it to Venice because the Papal State was not able to protect the city in the upcoming Turkish-Venetian war.) It was successively governed by Venetians and Ottomans in intervals:

• Venetian: (1464 - 1540)
• Ottoman: (1540 - 1690)
• Venetian: (1690 - 1715)
• Ottoman: (1715 - 1821)

The commercial importance of the town continued until the Orlov Revolt (1770) in the Russo-Turkish War, which saw its importance decline severely. She was known as "Benefşe" ("Violet" in Turkish) during Ottoman rule and was a sanjak centre in Mora province.

Modern times

The town was liberated from Ottoman rule on August 1, 1821 by Tzannetakis Grigorakis who entered the town with his private army, on his own expenses, during the Greek War of Independence.

In 1971, Monemvassia became linked with the rest of the outside world through a bridge on the western side that connects to GR-86.

In more recent history, the town has seen a resurgence in importance with increasing numbers of tourists visiting the site and the region. The medieval buildings have been restored, many of them converted to hotels.

Places of interest

• The Church of Ayia Sophia
• Christos Elkomenos Square

Nearest places

• Agios Ioannis in Monemvassia
• Geraki of Lakonia
• Elafonissos
• Neapoli

Communes

• Monemvassia

Historical population

Notable people

• Yiannis Ritsos (1909-1990) poet

Gallery

Old Town and Rock	Rock from Mainland	Main Square	Street in Downtown
Bell Tower in Downtown	Venetian style house	View through wall	Way to Upper Town
View on Downtown	Another view on Downtown	Church in Upper Town	Bay of Monemvasia

See also

• Communities of Laconia

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Monemvasia

• GTP - Monemvasia