Cultural Activities

Culture

The Municpality of Monemvasia, like other parts of the Peloponnese, boasts a large number of historic monuments that have survivied the passage of time. Ranging from prehistoric to classical, Byzantine to the more recent past, these include the unique medieval fortress of Monemvasia, with its well-preserved buildings of the Lower and Upper Towns, and the exhibits in the Monemvasia Archaeological Collection.

Meanwhile the folklore musuems of Velies and Riechia provide a wealth of information about the region’s daily life and culture.

The Christian tradition, another important aspect of the region’s history, is represented in dozens of churches and monasteries that are witness not only to the local population’s spiritual life but the skills of their master craftsmen and artists who built and decorated these places of worship.

Cultural life in the Muncipality of Monemvasia today takes the form of all kinds of events such as concerts, theatrical performances and art exhibitions. The biggest cultural festival is the Ritseia, a major celebration in summer dedicated to the poet Yannis Ritsos, Monemvasia’s most famous son, whose work has received recognition around the world.

Palaiokastro

Palaiokastro

Ruins of a fortress stand on a hill southwest of Papadianika. There are historical references to a fortress and settlement called Asopos that belonged to the Despotate of the Morea.  After 1463, it was occupied consecutively by the Venetians and Turks.

It was used by the local population as a place of refuge during raids by pirates and in Turkish attacks, and was much admired, particularly by naturalists travelling in the area.

The view is unique, taking in the entire Gulf of Laconia from Gytheio to the island of Kythera.

 

Access

Two kilometres along the road from Papadianika to Demonia, the hill is easily recognisable. A sign at the side of the road indicates the beginning of a relatively short and not very arduous walk (30-60 minutes) to the site.

Location:
Papadianika – Asopos

 

Information:
Always open

Free entrance

13/05/2017 in Historic Sites, Places of interest Comments (0)

Monemvasia Arch. Collection

Monemvasia Archaeological Collection

The archaeological collection of the fortress of Monemvasia is housed in an old mosque in the main square in the lower town, opposite the town cathedral of Elkomenos Christos.

This small museum contains artefacts chiefly found during work to repair the monuments and surface exploration carried out over the past decades.
The collection consists mainly of architectural sculptures and ceramic objects used in daily life.
The sculptures are from the church of Aghia Sofia and the ruined mid-Byzantine church excavated at the Georgoulas residence, and date from the end of the 12th century. The latter is one of the earliest monuments in the fortress with a marble altar screen.

There are two main groups of antiquities.
A) stone sculptures consisting mainly of architectural members or individual elements from the built enviroment, dating from the early Christian period (4th-7th centuries AD), the Byzantine period (mid 7th-15th centuries) and the Post-Byzantine period (15th-19th centuries).
B) Ceramic and other small objects used in daily life, household objects or personal items, also dating from the Early Christian period until the later years of the Turkish occupation.

A compass construction containing a map of the fortress in the middle of the museum directs visitors to the various exhibits.

Location:
Monemvasia, Laconia

Accesss:
Parking is available outside the entrance to the fortress, which is also accessible by bus.

 

Contact:
Telephone: 27320 61403
Website:  http://www.culture.gr
Email: 5eba@culture.gr

 

Information:
Tuesday – Sunday: 08:30-15:00
Monday: closed.

Entrance fee: 2 euros
Reduction: 1 euro

 

12/05/2017 in Museums-Places to Visit Comments (0)