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Information about Monemvasia

Monemvassia  (Μονεμβασίa)
Location
Enlarge picture
Monemvasia (Greece)

CoordinatesCoordinates:
Time zone:EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):15 m (0 ft)
Government
Country:Greece
Periphery:Peloponnese
Prefecture:Laconia
Population statistics (as of 2001)
City Proper
 - Population:0
Codes
Postal codes:230 70
Area codes:27320
License plate codes:Α?
Monemvassia (Greek: Μονεμβασία, Μονεμβάσια, Μονεμβασιά), and known by the Franks as Malvasia , is a well-known medieval fortress with an adjacent town, located on a small peninsula off the east coast of the Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia. Its remains include the defensive structures and the small adjacent town and Byzantine churches , and its name derives from two Greek words, mone and emvassia, meaning "single entrance". Many of the streets are narrow and fit only for pedestrians ; the bay of Palaia Monemvassia is to be found in the north. Monemvassia's nickname is the Gibraltar of the East or The Rock. The rock is 300 m tall and 1.8 km long. The village is situated on the southeastern side of the rock, which overlooks the Palaia Monemvasia bay. A small hamlet with about 10 houses lies to the northwest. A field of grass covers the northwest and top, accessed by a rocky, zig-zagging pathway. The fortress lies on the north side of the colorful rock, which ranges from grey to peach melon and pink.

Nearest places

Communes

  • Monemvassia

Historical population

Year Communal population Change Municipal population
197132--
1981631599/18.72%-
199178-553/-87.64%3,950


From 1981 to 1991, the village had a huge decline in population, one of the places that lost population in Laconia.

History

Middle Ages

The founding of the town and fortress of Monemvassia 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 center. The fortress withstood the Arab and Norman invasions and conquests in 1147. Cornfields that fed up to 30 men were grown inside the fortress.

Enlarge picture
Map Made by F. de Witt, Amsterdam, 1680
It was a Byzantine town that existed continuously under the domain of the Empire until 1471, when it was sold to the Pope by the Despot of Morea Thomas Palaeologos (in 1474 Venice captured it.) It was successively governed by Venetians and Ottomans in intervals:
  • Venetian: (1470 - 1540)
  • Ottoman: (1540 - 1690)
  • Venetian: (1690 - 1715)
  • Ottoman: (1715 - 1821)
The commercial importance of the town continued until the Orlov Revolt (1770) in the Russo-Turkish War, which saw its importance decline severely.

Modern times

The town was liberated from Ottoman rule on August 1, 1821, during the Greek War of Independence.

The citadel has been uninhabited since 1920.

In 1971, Monemvassia became linked with the rest of the outside world through a bridge on the western side that connects to GR-86.

In more recent history, the town has seen a resurgence in importance with increasing numbers of tourists visiting the site and the region. The medieval buildings have been restored, many of them converted to hotels.

Places of interest

  • The Church of Ayia Sophia
  • Christos Elkomenos Square

Other

Monemvassia has about 40 churches and a square called kanoni. There is one bank in Gefyra. Monemvassia also has numerous hotels in the castle and many other rooms to rent in Gefyra.

External links




North: Kynouria?
West: MonemvasiaEast: Myrtoan Sea

See also

 •  • [ e]
Municipalities and Communities of the Laconia Prefecture
MunicipalitiesAsopos • East Mani • Elos • Faris • Geronthres • Gytheio • Krokees • Molaoi • Monemvasia • Mystras • Niata • Oinountas • Oitylo • Pellana • Skala • Smynos • Sparta • Therapnes • Voies • Zarakas
CommunitiesElafonisos • Karyes
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Motto
Ελευθερία ή θάνατος
Eleftheria i thanatos  
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Greece

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The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Pelopónnisos; see also List of Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth.
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Greece

This article is part of the series:
Politics of Greece


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Laconia (Λακωνία), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a prefecture in Greece. Laconia has the legal status of a prefecture, with Sparta its administrative capital.
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This is an alphabetical list of municipalities and communities in Greece. For an ordered list of cities with population over 30,000 see List of cities in Greece.

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T V X Y Z See also

A


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Greek}}} 
Writing system: Greek alphabet 
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Official language of:  Greece
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recognised as minority language in parts of:
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Middle Ages form the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three "ages": the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages and Modern Times.
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The Peloponnese or Peloponnesus (Greek: Πελοπόννησος Pelopónnisos; see also List of Greek place names) is a large peninsula in southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth.
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Motto
Ελευθερία ή θάνατος
Eleftheria i thanatos  
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Greece

This article is part of the series:
Politics of Greece


  • Constitution
  • Parliament
  • Presidium

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Laconia (Λακωνία), also known as Lacedaemonia, is a prefecture in Greece. Laconia has the legal status of a prefecture, with Sparta its administrative capital.
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Byzantine Empire or Byzantium is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire of the Middle Ages, centered on its capital of Constantinople.
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Greek}}} 
Writing system: Greek alphabet 
Official status
Official language of:  Greece
 Cyprus
 European Union
recognised as minority language in parts of:
 European Union
 Italy
 Turkey
Regulated by:
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Motto
Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti   (Latin)
"Conquered By No Enemy" 1
Anthem
"Gibraltar Anthem"
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Location

Coordinates Coordinates:
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max): 0 - 276 m (0 - 0 ft)
Government
Country:
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Neapoli or Neapolis (Greek Νεάπολις 'new city') may refer to the following places:

Cities

In Greece:
  • Neapoli, Thessaloniki, is a municipality in Thessaloniki conurbation

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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1940s  1950s  1960s  - 1970s -  1980s  1990s  2000s
1968 1969 1970 - 1971 - 1972 1973 1974

Year 1971 (MCMLXXI
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