Irlandos: /* Other */

2008-03-06T11:41:40Z

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Irlandos at 11:58, December 13, 2005

2005-12-13T11:58:37Z

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{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="float:right; empty-cells:show; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#FFDEAD;"

! align="center" colspan="2" | Statistics
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Prefecture]]: || [[Laconia]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Provinces of Greece|Province]]: || [[Epidavros Limiras]]
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" valign="top"
| Location: || {{coor dms|36|41|7|N|23|3|14|E|region:GR}}
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"


|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Population: ([[1991]])  - Total  - Density¹  - Rank||    -/km² 
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Communes: ||
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Elevation:  -lowest:  -centre:|| sea level 15 m(centre)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[List of postal codes in Greece|Postal code]]: || 230 70
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"*Location:
| [[Area codes in Greece|Area/distance code]]: || 11-30-[[Greece dialing code 27320|27320]] (030-27320)
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[Municipal codes in Greece|Municipal code]]: || 3213
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| [[License plates in Greece|Car designation]]: || <code>AK</code>
|---- bgcolor="#FFFFFF"
| Name of inhabitants: || Momenvasian ''sing.'', -s ''pl.'' Monemvasiot ''sing.'', -s ''pl.''

|}

'''Monemvasia''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Μονεμβασία, Turkish: Benefşe or Menekşe), is a medieval fortress with an adjacent town, located on a small peninsula off the east coast of the [[Peloponnese]] in the [[Greece|Greek]] [[prefecture]] of [[Laconia]]. Remains include the defensive structures, the small adjacent town and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] churches. Its name derives from two [[Greek language|Greek]] words, ''monem'' and ''emvasia'', meaning "single entrance". Many of the streets are narrow and are only fit for pedestrians. The bay of [[Palaia Monemvasia]] is found in the north. Monemvasia's nickname is ''the Gibraltar of the East''.

The rock is 300 m tall and 1.8 km long. 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. A field of grass covers the northwest and top, accessed by a rocky, zig-zagging pathway. The fortress lies on the north side of the colorful rock, which ranges from grey to peach melon and pink.

==Nearest places==
*[[Agios Ioannis (Monemvasia), Greece|Agios Ioannis]] in Monemvasia

==Communes==
*Monemvasia

==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Year !! Communal population !! Change !! Municipal population
|-
| [[1971]] || 32 || - || -
|-
| [[1981]] || 631 || 599/18.72% || -
|-
| [[1991]] || 78 || -553/-87.64% || 3,950
|}

From 1981 to 1991, the village had a huge decline in population, one of the places that lost population in Laconia.

==History==
===Middle Ages===
The founding of the town and fortress of Monemvasia most probably occurred in the [[6th Century]] AD. 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 the [[15th Century]], when the Empire fell. It was successively governed by Venetians and Ottomans in intervals:
*Venetian: (1460 - 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.

===Modern times===

The town was liberated from Ottoman rule on [[August 1]], [[1821]], during the Greek [[War of Independence]].

The citadel has been uninhabited since [[1920]].

In [[1971]], Monemvasia became linked with the rest of the outside world through a bridge on the western side that connects to [[Greece Interstate 86|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.

==Places of interest==
*The Church of [[Hagia Sophia (Monemvasia)|Hagia Sophia]]
*[[Christos Elkomenos Square]]

==Other==
Monemvasia had a school, but has a church and a square (''[[plateia]]''). There are no banks in the area. Monemvasia also has hotels, including the [http://www.flower-hotel.gr/ Flower Hotel].

==External links==
*[http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Monemvasia&country=GR Mapquest - Monemvasia] - street map is not yet available
*http://www.monemvasia.de (also in German)
*[http://www.monemvasia.com History and Travel Information]
*[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/212/21205a/e212ea02.html Monemvasia castle]
*[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/212/21205m/e212em02.html Archaeological collection of Monemvasia]
*[http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1212673/monemvasia.html Traveljournals.net - Monemvasia]
*[http://www.superbgreece.com/Peloponnese/Monemvasia/index.htm Monemvasia guide for visitors]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=9593 GTP - Monemvasia]
*[http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=9592 GTP - Municipality of Monemvasia]
*[http://indexmundi.com/z/?lat=36.6833333=23.05&t=p&r=73480&p=monemvasia&cc=gr&c=greece.htm Indexmundi - Monemvasia]

 
<table width = 75% border = 2 align="center">
<tr><td width = 35% align="center">
<td width = 30% align="center">'''North:''' [[Leonidi|Kynouria]]?</td>
<td width = 35% align="center">
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td width = 10% align="center">'''West:''' </td>
<td width = 35% align="center">'''Monemvasia'''</td>
<td width = 30% align="center">'''East:''' [[Myrtoan Sea]] </td>
<tr>
</table>

==See also:==
*[[Communities of Laconia]]

[[Category:Byzantine Empire]]
[[Category:Laconia prefecture]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]

@@ Line 101: / Line 101: @@
 ==Other==
-Monemvasia had a school, but has a church and a square (''[[plateia]]'').  There are no banks in the area.  Monemvasia also has hotels, including the [http://www.flower-hotel.gr/ Flower Hotel].
+Monemvasia had a school, but has a church and a square (''plateia'').  There are no banks in the area.  Monemvasia also has hotels, including the [http://www.flower-hotel.gr/ Flower Hotel].
 ==External links==

Monemvasia - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Other */

Irlandos at 11:58, December 13, 2005