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Monemvasia

Monemvasia or Malvoisie is a fortified city of Greece located south of the Peloponnese, on the east coast of the regional district of Laconia. It is a rocky peninsula similar to Gibraltar. It is connected to the mainland by a short causeway. The island is about 300 meters wide and one kilometer long and rises on a plateau about a hundred meters above sea level.

The locality is composed of two districts. The Kastro is the historic town on the peninsula and the modern Gefyra district on the mainland, which is home to the port and most of the tourist infrastructure.

Monemvasia was built during the 6th century by the inhabitants of ancient Laconia seeking refuge from the Slav invaders who dominated much of Greece between 500 and 700 AD. This enormous rock was not visible from the mainland, so the inhabitants avoided enemy attacks. At the time, the only way to reach Monemvasia was by boat. It was only later that the paved road was built to connect the entrance of the castle to the mainland.

The rocky island had been separated from the mainland by an earthquake in 375 AD. Over the centuries that followed, Monemvasia changed hands several times, in both directions, between the Venetians and the Turks, until the small town was liberated in the Greek War of Independence at the beginning of the 19th century.

The castle of the city of Monemvasia is one of the most impressive places in Greece. The whole city is made up of castles, old houses, cobbled streets, ancient squares and churches.

From the main square of Monemvasia, dominated by an old cannon, you can observe the church of Elkomenos Christos and a 16th century mosque that houses the archaeological collection of the city.

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