Summer 0f 2014
Summer 2014, another trip to the Peloponnese on the Greek mainland, on this occasion flying into Kalamata, hiring a car and travelling straight to Mistras nestled in the Taygetos mountains above the plain of Sparti in Laconia. Our first planned location visit, the archeological site at Mistras, saw us arrive early afternoon at the Guesthouse Mazaraki, an excellent boutique hotel in the village of Pikoulianika for an overnight stay. Pikoulianika is a short distance from the ancient settlement at Mistras making the Guesthouse Mazaraki an ideal base. A short walk uphill from Guesthouse Mazaraki is the restaurant Chromata, another gem and a great place to enjoy an evening meal from the terrace overlooking the valley of Eurota. In the cooling temperatures of late afternoon we spent several hours wandering around the vast archeological site of Mistras. Dating back to the time of the Franks in the thirteenth century, the remains of the Byzantine city of Mistras is today a mixture of ruined and restored churches, monasteries and other buildings. Mistras served as the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries, experiencing a period of prosperity and cultural enlightenment.
Over time Mistras has been ruled by the Turks as well as the Venetians before coming under the control of the Ottoman Empire in 1715. It's demise and decline finally came about after it was burnt by the Albanians during the Magna Revolt in 1770. Mistras's wealth was largely derived from trading in and the manufacture of silk cloth and garments undoubtedly helping in it's development as a centre for learning,culture and religion. The site archeological can be accessed from two levels, the upper and lower 'gates' from where you can meander through the ancient streets that lead from church to church, to the Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa and the fortress erected in 1249 by William of Villehardouin perched on the mountainside summit.
Mistras is renowned for its staggeringly beautiful and sensitively restored frescos that decorate the building interiors. At the site there is also a small museum where information and examples of its history, trade, culture and religion can be seen.
More images can be seen in the Mistras Album