Monemvasia

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Statistics
Prefecture: Laconia
Province: Epidavros Limiras
Location: 36° 41′ 7″ N, 23° 3′ 14″ E
Population: (1991)
 - Total
 - Density¹
 - Rank

 

 -/km²
Communes:
Elevation:
 -lowest:
 -centre:

sea level
15 m(centre)
Postal code: 230 70
Area/distance code: 11-30-27320
(030-27320)
Municipal code: 3213
Car designation: AK
Name of inhabitants: Momenvasian sing., -s pl.
Monemvasiot sing., -s pl.

Monemvasia (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 Greek prefecture of Laconia. Remains include the defensive structures, the small adjacent town and Byzantine churches. Its name derives from two 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

Communes

  • Monemvasia

Historical population

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 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

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 Flower Hotel.

External links




North: Kynouria?
West: Monemvasia East: Myrtoan Sea

See also: