Peloponnese: Mystras.

This was NOT Sparta. . . 

However, it was a Byzantine/Middle Age castle atop a mountain that OVERLOOKED Sparta. . . And we had to drive through Sparta to get there. 

This site is special for a number of reasons.

For one, It is one of the few castles that date from the Middle Ages, that was built in Greece. There was this awkward time when the west tried to take Greece over blah blah. Bottom line, it didn't stick, but there is defiantly some influence there. Its significant because it is a living fusion of Ancient Byzantine conceptual structure as well as Middle Aged styles. 

Mystras is also just about the only Byzantine structure that still stands and was/is not just a church.

Mystras had three monasteries on this mountain top during its prime. It had a max of 20000 people at once, living in this city in the mountains. If you put this in perspective in Ancient times, living in a city of 20000 on a mountain top is not an easy life.

Despite the location, Mystras became a center for Byzantine. The Emperor to be went there to study and prepare  for the throne. And it became a thriving city of thinkers and students. 

Today, you can visit the 3 churches on site. There is a Nunary there still today, however we didn't get a chance to meet or talk with any of them. One church is very clearly in use still, Original fresco's still in tact. It was beautiful and ornate as all Greek Orthodox churches are. 

Another church was empty save its fresco's. Its in the process of being restored little by little. The last church combines two period style of church. It is structured off of the side of a cliff and resides next to the old monastery, which now stands in ruins. You can explore these grounds a little, visit old storage rooms and see where the nuns of the time slept. 

We hiked all the way to the top of the Castle and looked over the valley all around. It was beautiful, as most places in Greece are. Then, we hiked down to the very bottom, exploring the connection between the past and the present as we went along. There are building that are being restored. There are unearthed foundations of old buildings. The wild gardens are still maintained today by the nuns who still stay there.

It was a beautiful example of how the Ancient City looked and operated and a very interesting opportunity to see how it became what it is today.

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The password is "Mystras"

Peloponnese: Nauplion

A picturesque Sea-side town. . .

During our travels around the Peloponnese, we had the pleasure of staying in Nauplion. It is a beautiful town that comes right up to the water. It also has some interesting history, naturally. 

Island Castle.

The city has a giant fortress, The Fortress of Palamidi,  that spent some time being occupied by the Ottomans. The area has a few old Mosque in town, which were converted back to Catholicism, and back again. 

The area had a few old structures, one of which was out in the middle of a super tiny island off the harbor. 

When we went up to the fortress, there were old canons still in place. We talked about the history and walked around the remains on the hill top. 

The city was beautiful from all angles. The water just felt so close. The Sea water here in Greece might be one of my favorite things. Its so nice to watch the waves crash along the shore and the harbor. It's so perfect and blue. And along the ancient structures, Its just an incredible site to see. 

Nauplion just had a cute little air about it. It was small and cozy and clean. Every building was beautiful and there were flower vines spilling out of balconies. 

We visited a museum there and found some really wonderful places to eat.

Those waves.

The best part, however, was having the best gelato in Greece. This Italian man makes his gelato, Opan- Italy style. We ended up getting it twice while we were there. 

I think Nauplion is one of the best places I visited thus far. It just had such a homey feeling to it and it was so lovely. 

The museum had some interesting things as well. It is located in an old Venetian building in whats called "Constitution Square." The building is just as lovely as its two floors of artifacts. 

For more pictures, Click here!! 

The password is "Nauplion"