Mystras

Located on the steep slopes of the Taygetus Mountains on the Peloponnese Peninsula, Mystras is an archaeological site in the region of Laconia. A classic fortified city, it’s surrounded by verdant orange and olive trees and filled with cobbled streets worn smooth by the centuries. The historic palace where the last Byzantine emperor was crowned lies abandoned now, offering visitors the chance to take a trip back in time to an incredibly well-preserved medieval Byzantine city.

Mystras Overview

The ancient Byzantine town of Mystras may be an archaeological site today but stepping into the walled city transports visitors to another place in time, more specifically in the later decades of the Byzantine period, when it was the second most important town after Constantinople. An imposing fortress crowns its highest point, providing the most impressive views of the site, and connected to it through a descending series of staircases and arches, are seven medieval churches. The Pantanassa Monastery is still occupied today, a place where a few nuns remain, tending the garden and feeding feral cats, while the Peribleptos Monastery is home to rare, colorful frescoes. Strolling the smooth cobble steps, ducking into the ruins of the churches, palaces, monasteries, and simple homes, most dating from 1271 through 1460, it’s easy to imagine the comings and goings of the people who lived here so many centuries ago.

Just below the castle, a new village was constructed. While its square has hosted a few tavernas and cafes for years for those visiting the area, it’s recently become more developed, offering accommodation with an emphasis on wellness services for tourists. The surrounding landscape includes many walking trails that lead to various beautiful spots.

Mystras History in a Nutshell

Mystras was founded in the 13^th century following the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusades. After the separation of the Byzantine Empire, the Peloponnese, including Mystras, was granted to the Frankish Villehardouins family. A few years later, Frank Prince William Villehardouin had a fortress constructed on top of Mystras Mountain thanks to its strategic position, allowing him to control the valley of Eurota. A decade later in 1259, he was captured during battle by a Byzantine emperor who set him free in exchange for the castles in both Mystras and Monemvasia. Mystras Castle became the nucleus of the later Mystras castle-state, one of the most important cities in the late Byzantine period as the seat of the Despotate of Morea. By the middle of the 14^th century, it was the center for cultural and political life, in a period of decline for the Byzantine Empire.

The prosperity of Mystras reached its peak around the turn of the 15^th century – in 1400, Neoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon founded a philosophic school here. The last emperor of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinos Paleologos, ruled from 1443 to 1449. When the Turks conquered Constantinople in 1453, his younger brother Demetrius ultimately surrendered the castle to them. Mystras began to decline under Turkish rule – while the Venetians dominated for a while, the Turks took it back, with numerous efforts made by inhabitants to free the city of them to no avail. In 1825, Albanian Turks slaughtered the inhabitants and destroyed the area, which was abandoned before being set free a few years later, forming part of the first Greek state. After the new city of Sparta was built by King Otto nearby, Mystras experienced its final decline, with families primarily moving away to New Mystras and Sparta. After lying abandoned for decades, it became an archaeological site, and in 1989, its old town was listed as a UNESCO-protected site.

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Mystras At A Glance

Population of Mystras 1,000

What to See in Mystras Ancient Sparta, Visit the Archaeological Museum, Church of Agia Sofia, Cathederal of Agios Demetrios, Palace of Despots & the Monastery of Perivleptos

Towns or islands to visit near Mystras Athens, the Peloponnese Peninsula – Kalamata, Stoupa, Nafplio, Monemvasia – Corinth, the Saronic Islands

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Things to do in Mystras

Archaeological Museum of Mystras

Housed inside a building at the west wing of the Cathedral of St. Demetrios’ north courtyard, this museum contains an impressive collection of Byzantine sculptures, pottery, jewelry, coins and more. A hair plait and fragments of fabric that were discovered inside of a grave at the church of Agia Sophia in Mystras are believed to have belonged to a Byzantine princess and are displayed here as well.

Church of Agia Sofia

This stone church dates to the late Byzantine period, around the mid-14th century, and served as the palace church and burial ground for a number of emperors’ wives. There are still some frescoes here in a side chapel that have survived through the centuries.

Cathedral of Agios Demetrios

This church, founded in the late 13th century, is considered one of the most important churches in Mystras as the place where in 1449, Constantinos Paleologos was crowned. It contains a three-aisled basilica with a bell tower and narthex which were part of the original building. Some 200 years later, a cross-in-square church was added.

Palace of Despots

Near Nafplio Gate is the massive Palace of Despots, the second most important palace of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople. The complex was started by the Franks and finished by the Byzantines. It was the house of the Despot of Mystras, with various buildings constructed between the mid-13th and mid-15th centuries. The main palace was constructed between 1350 and 1400

Monastery of Perivleptos

Built into a rock that’s nestled in a grove of pines, the Monastery of Perivleptos houses very well-preserved 14th century frescos. The main church contains a high dome where at the center is the Byzantine depiction of Christ as the universal, all-powerful ruler, Pantokrator. It’s surrounded by the Apostles and the Virgin, flanked by a pair of angels.

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Mystras

Mystras Overview

Mystras History in a Nutshell

Mystras At A Glance