Monemvasia Attractions

The ancient name of the town, Minoa, points to a Cretan settlement. 6km/4mi north are the remains (town walls and temples of the first millennium B.C.) of the Mycenaean town of Epidauros Limera. Monemvasía first appears on the stage of history, however, in the eighth century, when it became a place of refuge for Greeks fleeing before the Slav invasion of Laconia. It soon developed into a flourishing port, which was able to repel a Norman attack in 1149 and was taken by Guillaume de Villehardouin in 1249 only after a three year siege. Only fourteen years later, however, in 1263, he was compelled to return Monemvasía, together with Mistra and Maina, to the Byzantine emperor, by whom he had been taken prisoner. In 1460, faced with the threat of Turkish attack, the town submitted to the authority of the Pope. Later it passed under Venetian rule, but in 1540 fell into the hands of the Turks, who held it (with another Venetian interlude between 1690 and 1715) until 1821.

Boat services from Athens (Piraeus), Boat services from Athens (Piraeus), Kythira and Gythion. Yacht supply station. By road, Monemvasía is 98km/61miles from Sparta and 64km/40miles from Gythion.