Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dimitrios surrendered to the Turks in 1460, a despot of Morea (usually a son or brother
of the ruling Byzantine emperor) lived and reigned at Mystras.
While the empire plunged into decline elsewhere, Mystras enjoyed a renaissance under
the despots. Gemistos Plethon (1355-1452) founded a school of humanistic philosophy
here and his enlightened ideas, including the revival of the teachings of Plato and
Pythagoras, attracted intellectuals from all corners of Byzantium. After the Turks occu-
pied Mystras, Plethon's pupils moved to Rome and Florence, where they made a signific-
ant contribution to the Italian Renaissance. Art and architecture also flourished, as seen
in the town's splendid buildings and frescoes.
Mystras declined under Turkish rule, but thrived again after the Venetians captured it
in 1687 and developed a flourishing silk industry, with the population swelling to 40,000.
The Turks recaptured it in 1715 and from then it was downhill all the way; the Russians
burnt it in 1770, the Albanians in 1780 and Ibrahim Pasha torched what was left in 1825.
By the time of Independence it was a largely abandoned ruin. Much restoration has taken
place since the 1950s (and continues to this day) and in 1989 it was declared a World
Heritage site.
Sights
Mystras
RUIN
(
23315 25363; adult €5;
8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Sat, to 3pm Sun, sometimes longer in sum-
mer)
»
Kastro & Upper Town
From opposite the upper entrance ticket office, a path (signposted '
kastro
') leads up to
the fortress. The fortress was built by the Franks and extended by the Turks. The path
descends from the ticket office leading to
Agia Sofia
, which served as the palace church,
and where some frescoes survive. Steps descend from here to a T-junction.
A left turn leads to the
Nafplio Gate
. Near the gate, but closed for restoration at the
time of writing, is the huge
Palace of Despots
, a complex of several buildings construc-
ted at different times.
From the palace, a winding, cobbled path leads down to the
Monemvasia Gate
, the
entrance to the lower town.
»
Lower Town
Through the Monemvasia Gate, turn right for the well-preserved, 14th-century
Convent
of Pantanassa
. This features a beautifully ornate stone-carved facade and is still main-
tained by nuns, Mystras' only inhabitants. It's an elaborate, perfectly proportioned build-
