Monemvasia
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| Monemvassia Μονεμβασία |
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 Monemvasia |
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| Location | |
  Monemvasia
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| Coordinates | 36°41′N 23°3′E / 36.683°N 23.05°ECoordinates: 36°41′N 23°3′E / 36.683°N 23.05°E |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | Peloponnese |
| Prefecture: | Laconia |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[1]) | |
| City | |
| - Population: | 4,660 |
| Codes | |
| 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. Its remains include the defensive structures and the small adjacent town and Byzantine churches , and its 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 in 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.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
The village is situated on the southeastern side of the rock, which overlooks the Palaia Monemvasia bay. A small hamlet with about 10 houses lies to the northwest.
[edit] History
[edit] Middle Ages
The founding of the town and fortress of Monemvassia most probably occurred in the 6th century CE. The town was founded in 583 by people seeking refuge from the Slavic and the Avaric invasion of Greece. From the 10th century CE, the town developed into an important trade and maritime center. 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.
[edit] 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 following a terrible massacre of its Turkish population.
The citadel has been uninhabited since 1920.
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.
[edit] Places of interest
- The Church of Ayia Sophia
- Christos Elkomenos Square
[edit] Nearest places
- Agios Ioannis in Monemvassia
- Geraki of Lakonia
- Elafonissos
- Neapoli
[edit] Communes
- Monemvassia
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Communal population | Change | Municipal population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 32 | - | - |
| 1981 | 631 | 599/18.72% | - |
| 1991 | 78 | -553/-87.64% | 3,950 |
[edit] Notable people
- Yiannis Ritsos (1909-1990) poet
[edit] 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 |
 Church in Upper Town |
 Bay of Monemvasia |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "PDF (875 KB) 2001 Census" (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ). www.statistics.gr. http://www.statistics.gr/gr_tables/S1101_SAP_1_TB_DC_01_03_Y.pdf PDF. Retrieved on 2007-10-30.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Monemvasia |
| North: Kynouria? | ||
| West: | Monemvasia | East: Myrtoan Sea |
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