Greece Confidential
PELOPONNESE

A trip to nature and history

SPARTA - MYSTRAS

16 July, 2021

Sparta is a place with unique monuments and attractions and incomparable natural beauty that composes the setting for a journey into myth and history.

Sparta! The famous city, which left its mark on Greek and world history! A place with unique monuments and attractions and incomparable natural beauty that is worth visiting! Toponyms, monuments, archeological sites and museums compose the setting for a journey into myth and history. Follow the footsteps of Leonidas, Menelaos & Oraia Eleni and wander the castles, palaces, churches and stone houses of Mystras where Constantine Paleologos reigned. Admire the imposing statue of Leonidas – the most photographed attraction of Sparta – in front of the municipal stadium. In a short distance you will find the Acropolis of Ancient Sparta, where you will see relics of the temple of Athena Chalkioikos, the so-called “circular building” and the ancient Roman theater which was one of the largest in ancient Greece. On the outskirts of the acropolis, you will find the ruins of a peculiar temple-shaped building, the Leonidaion (5th century BC). The local tradition, as well as the traveler Pausanias, state that Leonidas’s bones were transported and buried there from Thermopylae. Two more archaeological sites worth visiting are the sanctuary of Orthia Artemis, which was the religious center of the Spartan education of the young, and Menelaion, an important sanctuary where the worship of the mythical king Menelaus and the Beautiful Helen took place. From the hill of Menelaion you will admire the most beautiful view to the valley of Sparta and Taygetos!

In Sparta there are also remarkable museums that present the historical and cultural development of the region:

The Archaeological Museum is housed in an impressive neoclassical building in the city center and its collection includes exhibits from prehistoric to Roman times.

The Museum of Olive and Greek Oil, will take you on a journey through the culture, history and technology of olives and olive production in Greece, from prehistoric times to the early 20th century.

The Museum of Modern Sparta exhibits traditional costumes, manuscripts, drawings, as well as anything related to the city and its history from its re-establishment in 1834 until today.

For the friends of folklore there is the Manousakeio Museum of Popular & Urban Life, where through representations of interiors and multimedia projections you will meet aspects of family and social life, the people who created and inhabited the new city of Sparta.

KAIDAS
SANCTUARY OF ARTHEMIS ORTHIA
TWO MORE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WORTH VISITING ARE THE SANCTUARY OF ORTHIA ARTEMIS, WHICH WAS THE RELIGIOUS CENTER OF THE SPARTAN EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG, AND MENELAION, AN IMPORTANT SANCTUARY WHERE THE WORSHIP OF THE MYTHICAL KING MENELAUS AND THE BEAUTIFUL HELEN TOOK PLACE. FROM THE HILL OF MENELAION YOU WILL ADMIRE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEW TO THE VALLEY OF SPARTA AND TAYGETOS!
SITES

The Museum of Ecclesiastical Art of the Diocese of Monemvasia & Sparta (Lyssandrou 3) houses important icons, sacred vessels, vestments as well as a remarkable series of manuscripts from the monasteries of the area.

In Mystras, there is one of the most prototype museums in Greece. This is the Museum of Cameras, created by the donation of the personal collection of the photographer Takis Aivalis, which is considered one of the largest in the world and in 2001 deservedly won a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The archeological site of Mystras (6 kilometers NW of Sparta), is a popular tourist attraction and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO!

The famous Byzantine castle city transfers the traveler to the era of the Byzantine Empire. Mystras, untouched by time, will enchant you with the atmosphere created by its magnificent monuments: the “Palaces of the Palaeologos”, the residences of the nobles (Laskari, Frangopoulos), the imposing churches (Agios Dimitrios, Pantanassa) and the monasteries (Perivleptou, Vrontochiou) that compose a scene of greatness of bygone eras. A walk to the archeological museum, a two-storey stone building of 1754, will complete in the best way your tour of one of the most beautiful archeological sites in Greece!

Magnificent nature and activities!

Small picturesque villages with paved squares and small churches, landscapes that change colors following the change of seasons, gurgling waters, caves, rich flora and fauna compose a unique setting in the entire Municipality of Sparta. The peaks of Mount Parnon and Mount Taygetos are waiting for you to conquer them through a multitude of beautiful hiking and mountaineering routes with exemplary signage! The wider area is a small paradise for those who love nature activities, as it offers authentic experiences that will be unforgettable. Walk on verdant slopes, cobbled alleys and squares, admire the beauty of nature, listen to the sound of the crystal-clear waters, relax in traditional taverns and enjoy excellent routes by bike, motorbike or 4 × 4 vehicle.

For your stay you can choose traditional hostels and old mansions. Taygetos and Parnonas invite you to discover their hidden secrets!

MYSTRAS PANTANASSA

SPARTA - MYSTRAS

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