Monemvasia
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Prefecture: | Laconia |
| Province: | Epidavros Limiras |
| Location: | Template:Coor dms |
| Population: (1991) - Total - Density¹ - Rank | -/kmē</small> |
| 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
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| Name of inhabitants: | Momenvasian sing., -s pl. Monemvasiot sing., -s pl. |
Monemvasia (Greek: Μονεμβασία) or Malvasy, 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 + emvasia meaning "single entrance". Much of the streets are narrow are are only fit for pedestrians. The bay of Palaia Monemvasia is founded in the north. The nickname is the Gibraltar of the East. The main industry of Momenvasia is the propduction of Malmsey, a kind of red wine which is a main export.
The rock is 300 m tall and 1.8 km long. The village is situated in the southeastern side of the rock which overlooks the Palaia Monemvasia bay. A small hamlet with about 10 houses lies to the northwest. The fields of grass lies to the northwest and the top. It is accessed by a rocky pathway which has a few zig zag curves which overlooks the north side of Monemvasia which includes a fortress lying north of the colorful rock which ranges from grey to peach melon and pink.
| Contents |
Nearest places
- Agios Ioannis in Monemvasia
Communes
- Momenvasia
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 most 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 CE, 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 centre. The fortress withstood the Arab and the Norman invasions and conquests in 1147. Cornfields wer grown inside the fortress which fed up to 30 men.
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 continued for the town until the Orlov Revolt (1770) in the Russo-Turkish War, which saw its importance severely decline.
Modern times
Monemvassia_-_rooftop_view.jpg
The town was liberated from Ottoman rule on August 1, 1821, during the Greek War of Independence.
The citadel since 1920 is no longer inhabited.
In 1971, Monemvasia became linked with the rest of the outside world especially with GR-86 with a bridge to its west
In more recent history, the town has seen a continuing resurgence in its importance with increasing levels of tourists visiting the site and the region. The medieval buildings has been restored. Many of them converted them to hotels.
Places of interest
- The Church of Hagia Sophia
- Christos Elkomenos Square
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 Flower Hotel (http://www.flower-hotel.gr/)
External links
- Mapquest - Monemvasia (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?tb=1&city=Monemvasia&country=GR) - street map is not yet available
- http://www.monemvasia.de (also in German)
- History and Travel Information (http://www.monemvasia.com)
- Monemvasia castle (http://www.culture.gr/2/21/212/21205a/e212ea02.html)
- Archaeological collection of Monemvasia (http://www.culture.gr/2/21/212/21205m/e212em02.html)
- traveljournals.net - Monemvasia (http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/greece/map/m1212673/monemvasia.htm)
- Guide to Monemvasia (http://www.superbgreece.com/Peloponnese/Monemvasia/index.htm)
- GTP - Monemvasia (http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=9593)
- GTP - Municipality of Monemvasia (http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=9592)
- Indexmundi - Monemvasia (http://indexmundi.com/z/?lat=36.6833333=23.05&t=p&r=73480&p=monemvasia&cc=gr&c=greece.htm)
| North: Kynouria? | ||
| West: | Monemvasia | East: Myrtoan Sea |