The rock of Monemvasia

The rock of Monemvasia

Greece
South East coast of Peloponese
Monemvasia

Monemvasia is one of the oldest, best preserved and most beautiful medieval settlements in Greece built on a small island, virtually a rock, linked to the mainland and east Peloponese coast by a short causeway 200m in length. The rock is loaded with old Byzantine churches with mosaics and frescoes, relics of midieval settlements, ottoman mosques all of them tracing a long past history of various conquerors and civilizations since the vary ancient times. But it also offers several beaches for relax and swim.
Due to its gifted location Monemvasia has always been a wishful target for occupation, fortification and strongold by ancient Sparta, pirates,Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans, liberated at last,during the Greek Independance War(1821-1828)
In recent times, especially during summer, the place is flooded with turists. Several films have also been shot there among them the horror film "wind"(1986)

In the photo a partial view of the midieval settlement.