Monemvasia Peloponnese

Peloponnese is a part of Greece not much sought after like the Greek Islands, but believe me it has nothing less fascinating, indeed from a historical and naturalistic point of view it is a continuous discovery and every new place found or visited will make you think about what you you are lost to this day.

I want to start with Monemvasia in the prefecture of Laconia in the east, a well-preserved medieval city dug into an imposing rock. Monemvasia in Greek means only entry and the name comes from the fact that to enter the Castle, there is only one access road above a causeway that can only be traveled on foot, cars are banned here. Formed by a low and a high area where the local aristocracy once resided, it has a beautiful agora on the main road that at the time served as a market during the Venetian domination and Bazaar during the Ottoman domination and is full of cafes to relax, typical taverns and shops.

To date of the forty between monasteries and churches, only twenty-four remain and it is worth visiting the oldest of Elkomenos Christos in the central square of the lower city and that of the Virgin of Hrisafittisa, which was built in the 16th century. A zigzag road will take you to the upper town on the summit through a tunnel, which still retains its original steel doors. The climb is not really a simple walk but once at the top the view is amazing and will compensate for the hard work. The church of Saint Sofia, half of the Byzantine era, half of the Venetian era, with its octagonal dome, is located right above the sea and will leave you breathless in all sense...

At sunset in Monemvasia the stones take on the purple color and another nickname given to this wonderful village is precisely the purple city. To be enjoyed on your visit, Malvasia wine is a typical sweet wine of the area called the nectar of the nobles, Goges a typical fresh pasta like wheat flour dumplings or Saita a savory pie with cheese and vegetables.

Impossible not to fall in love with this place, it seems to enter a fairy tale by the Grimm brothers where everything seems surreal, where every corner has something to offer, where bougainvillea flowers take hold of the walls and where life flows with a slow rhythm immune from the frenzy modern.