Temple of Olympia
Pictures of Greece
Mistras
In 1262 the Byzantines made themselves masters of Mistras, inaugurating a brilliant period for the medieval fortress-state. Houses covered the hill, mansions and palaces, churches and fortified monasteries were built, and the densely settled city was encircled by two enclosure walls. After the middle of the 14th century CE, when responsibility for the government of Mistras was assumed by the imperial family at Constantinople, the Despotate of the Morea flourised and developed into an important cultural centre, with close links with Constantinople.
The Kastro (castle) stands at the very top of the hill. It's quite a climb, even when you "cheat" and start halfway up at the castle gate. It's worth it, though, as the view is quite spectacular, especially when looking out over the plains to the modern town of Sparta.
There are a number of churches within the fortress, including the Ayia Sophia, Peribleptos, Evangelistria, Pantanassa, and Ayios Nikolaos. Consequently, I can't remember which one of these churches is shown in this picture, but I believe it is the Ayios Nikolaos.
The palaces of the Despots were built on a small plateau on the hill. Buildings with a variety of functions, erected at different periods from the 13th to the 15th century CE form a large complex, dominated by the early 15th century CE throne room. Much of the palace complex is currently encased in orange scaffolding, as can be seen here.
Some of the apparently Byzantine stone- and brick-work actually appears to be fairly recent. This frontage in particular (from another of the churches) is one that appears to be a modern recreation.
It is only once you make your way down to the main gate near to the Ayios Dimitrios metropolis that you realise exactly how big a feat of construction it was for the Byzantines to actually build the fortress at Mistras. Also, you realise exactly how far you have climbed and walked. It's a long way.
