Mistra Attractions
The village of Mistra, 7km/4.5mi from Sparta, lies below the ruins of the medieval town of Mistra, built on an outlying hill of the Taygetos range, which provides the most complete picture we have of a town of the late Byzantine period (13th-15th C.).
The castle of Mistra was built in 1249 by Guillaume II de Villehardouin, but in 1263, having been taken prisoner by the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII, he was compelled to yield it up to the Emperor, together with the castles of Maina and Monemvasía. Thereafter, until the Turkish conquest in 1460, Mistra was ruled by Byzantine princes, who bore the title of Despot, the second highest rank in the Empire (after the Basileus but above Sebastokrator and Caesar).
Below the Frankish castle on the summit of the hill there grew up first the upper and then the lower town. The Despot's palace became the center of a splendid court and an active intellectual life, particularly when George Gemisthos Plethon developed his neo-Platonic philosophy here in the 15th century, contributing a significant impulse to the Renaissance in Florence. This, combined with the marriage of one of the Despots to a Malatesta princess, was the motive which led Sigismondo Malatesta in 1464 to thrust down through Turkish-occupied territory to Mistra in order to bring back Plethon's remains to Rimini, where they were deposited in the church of San Francesco, the "Tempio Malatestiano".
After the Turkish conquest of the town in 1460 Mistra declined, particularly after Turkish reprisals in response to the Orlov rising of 1770; and when, following the liberation of Greece, the population moved in 1834 to the newly founded town of Sparta, Mistra shrank to a small village below the town walls. The houses and churches fell into decay: a process which was halted only by the considerable work of restoration and conservation carried out by Orlandos and others in the present century. Thanks to their work we are now able to get an impression of the life of this town, ruled by Greek princes married to wives from western Europe, which became a meeting- place between Byzantine and western culture.
The Palaioloyia festival is held annually on May 29.
The castle of Mistra was built in 1249 by Guillaume II de Villehardouin, but in 1263, having been taken prisoner by the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII, he was compelled to yield it up to the Emperor, together with the castles of Maina and Monemvasía. Thereafter, until the Turkish conquest in 1460, Mistra was ruled by Byzantine princes, who bore the title of Despot, the second highest rank in the Empire (after the Basileus but above Sebastokrator and Caesar).
Below the Frankish castle on the summit of the hill there grew up first the upper and then the lower town. The Despot's palace became the center of a splendid court and an active intellectual life, particularly when George Gemisthos Plethon developed his neo-Platonic philosophy here in the 15th century, contributing a significant impulse to the Renaissance in Florence. This, combined with the marriage of one of the Despots to a Malatesta princess, was the motive which led Sigismondo Malatesta in 1464 to thrust down through Turkish-occupied territory to Mistra in order to bring back Plethon's remains to Rimini, where they were deposited in the church of San Francesco, the "Tempio Malatestiano".
After the Turkish conquest of the town in 1460 Mistra declined, particularly after Turkish reprisals in response to the Orlov rising of 1770; and when, following the liberation of Greece, the population moved in 1834 to the newly founded town of Sparta, Mistra shrank to a small village below the town walls. The houses and churches fell into decay: a process which was halted only by the considerable work of restoration and conservation carried out by Orlandos and others in the present century. Thanks to their work we are now able to get an impression of the life of this town, ruled by Greek princes married to wives from western Europe, which became a meeting- place between Byzantine and western culture.
The Palaioloyia festival is held annually on May 29.
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Mitrópolis
The Mitrópolis was built in the early 14th C and is where Constantine XI Dragases was crowned Emperor. Among the church's treasures is an ancient sarcophagus carved with Dionysiac scenes.
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Palace of the Despot (Nauplia Gate)
The Byzantine Palace of the Despot was said to be built by Guillaume de Villehardouin. The Nauplia Gate is located a short distance west.
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Pantanassa Convent
The Pantanassa Convent is a functioning convent and is located near the 15th C Pantánassa church.
Perívleptos Monastery
The Perívleptos monastery (second half of 14th C.), is built against the rock face. It has very fine paintings of the "Palaeologue Renaissance" - masterpieces of this late Byzantine style, full of vigour, life and expressive force.
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Vrontókhion Monastery (Ayii Theódori Monastery)
The Vrontókhion Monastery dates from the late 13th C and has wonderful frescoes and relief sculptures.
Evangelistria Chapel (Monemvasía Gate)
Retracing our steps, we now walk up past the Evangelistria, a mortuary chapel of around A.D. 1400, towards the upper town, pass through the Monemvasía Gate and come to the Palace.
The Church of the Virgin Evangelistria is situated close to the Cathedral. It was built in the late 14th century and its few frescoes date from the same period.
The Church of the Virgin Evangelistria is situated close to the Cathedral. It was built in the late 14th century and its few frescoes date from the same period.
Frankish Castle
The Frankish Castle at Mistra was constructed by Guillaume de Villehardouin and is interesting in terms of both its architecture and its magnificent view, which encompasses the Taygetos range to the west and the valley of Laconia to the east.
The ascent to the castle is somewhat steep and stony and takes about 30 minutes.
The ascent to the castle is somewhat steep and stony and takes about 30 minutes.
Mistra (Mystras) Museum
The Mistra Museum is housed in a building adjacent to the cathedral. The museum's collection is composed largely of decorative fragments from the churches.
Hours
June 15 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
November 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 | 15:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Mistra Cathedral (Metropolis)
The Mistra Metropolis or Cathedral is dedicated to St Demetrios. It dates from 1309. Apart from its many frescoes, it contains an interesting relief of the two-headed eagle of Byzantium embedded on its floor.
An adjacent building houses the museum of Mistra.
An adjacent building houses the museum of Mistra.
Ste Sophia Church
Ste Sophia Church is situated to the north of the palace of the Despot in the upper city of Mistra. It was erected as the burial place of the despot, Manouil Katakouzenos.
Its two small chapels contain exemplary frescoes.
Its two small chapels contain exemplary frescoes.
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