Listed 40 sub titles with search on: Main pages for wider area of: "LACONIA Prefecture PELOPONNISOS" .
AGIA IRINI (Village) MYSTRAS
Tel: +30 27310 98204
AGIOS IOANNIS (Village) MYSTRAS
Tel: +30 27310 21719
GEROLIMENAS (Village) ITYLO
KARYES (Village) LAKEDEMONA
On the northwestern slopes of Mt.
Parnon, at an altitude of 900 m., lies Karyes, a pretty village near the site
of the ancient town with the
same name where Artemis Karyatis was worshipped. The goddess was accompanied
by the virgin Caryatid nymphs, whose statues adorned the Erechthion of the Acropolis
at Athens. At the village there is a copy of the Erechthion and the statues.
The church of Panagia has probably been erected on the site of the goddess’s
temple.
This text (extract) is cited March 2004 from the Prefecture
of Laconia tourist pamphlet.
Tel: +30 27310 95162, 95345
Fax: +30 27310 95345
On the northwestern slopes of Mt.
Parnon, at an altitude of 900 m., lies Karyes, a pretty village near the site
of the ancient town with the
same name where Artemis Karyatis was worshipped. The goddess was accompanied
by the virgin Caryatid nymphs, whose statues adorned the Erechthion of the Acropolis
at Athens. At the village there is a copy of the Erechthion and the statues.
The church of Panagia has probably been erected on the site of the goddess’s
temple.
This text (extract) is cited March 2004 from the Prefecture
of Laconia tourist pamphlet.
KROKEES (Small town) KROKEES
Our town Krokees (Krokeai or Levetsova as it used to be called) is
a small town located south of Sparta,
between the mountains Taygetos
and Parnon, in the county
of Laconia. The county of Laconia is the southernmost county of mainland Greece.
In ancient times (bronze age) Krokeai was inhabited by the Achaian
and Pelasgian tribes. Later, around 1100 BC along with the rest of Laconia
it was occupied by the Dorians. Krokeai was famous for its beautiful deep green
volcanic stone with golden spots known as "Krokeatis Lithos" (Krokean
stone). This stone, an image of which we used to create our front web page is
unique to the area of "Psiphi" in Krokeai. Although this stone is very
difficult to work with and shape, it was used to create beautiful spots and vases.
It was also used to decorate public bath houses, such as the ones in Corinth.
Later, as legend has it, the stone was used to adorn the church of St.Sophia in
Constantinoupole and the church of St. Paul in Rome. The simple tomb of 300 Spartans
in Thermopile is also made
with our unique Krokean stone.
Dioskouri (sons of Dias or Zeus) were believed to be the protectors
of the ancient town of Krokeai. A marble plaque of Dioskouri which was excavated
in recent times adorns the fountain in the central square of the town.
The modern Krokees have approximately 1400 ihabitants (in the early
50s its population was over 3000). The people of Krokees are distinguished by
their cultural activities and progressive lifestyles. The town has an elementary,
a middle and a high school. It also has a music band, its own newspaper, an olive
oil and cooperative and more, while its annual mardi-grass is well known to all
of Hellas (Greece). Many proffesionals, scientists and artists have sprung out
this little town, among them the famous Greek poet Nikiforos Vrettakos.
In the last ninety years many Krokeates (Krokeans) moved to Athens,
however many more immigrated to the United States, Canada and Australia. There,
as our poet wrote, "they build islands of Hellenism, which stand outby their
one point,...their illumination".
LAGIA (Village) ANATOLIKI MANI
Tel: +30 27330 21846
METAMORFOSSI (Village) MOLAI
Tel: +30 27320 22950
MONEMVASSIA (Village) LACONIA
Surrounded by walls and built on the southern slopes of the headland,
which the Byzantines separated, leaving only a narrow causeway (hence its name
in Greek, "single passage"), Monemvassia still retains much of its former
medieval character. For this reason perhaps it has now become popular with artists
and world celebrities.
Monemvassia was founded in the 6th century A.D. and has since suffered
the domination of Normans, Franks, Venetians and Turks, all of whom made additions
to the fortifications of the city.
The stately old mansions and 40 old Byzantine churches, some well
preserved, others not, in the Lower Town reflect the power and prosperity which
Monemvassia enjoyed for centuries under her various rulers. Of the churches within
the old city, that of Agios Nikolaos (18th cent.) and Elkomenou Christou, which
is Venetian in part, are certainly worth a short visit. A paved pathway leads
to the summit of the hill and the castle,
which overlooks the town below. Round the castle
are a number of Byzantine towers and several beautiful Byzantine churches in the
whole of Greece, built in the
same style as that at Dafni
near Athens. It is the 13th
century church of Agia Sofia, which welcomes its visitors to enjoy the beauty
of art in a natural setting.
The once rich vineyards of the region which produced the renowned
Malmsey wine are no longer cultivated, but this is not to say that Monamvassia
is without wine - necessary accompaniment to the red mullet and lobster for which
it is famous.
This text (extract) is cited March 2004 from the Greek
National Tourism Organization tourist pamphlet (1980).
MONI AGION ANARGYRON (Monastery) INOUDAS
Tel: +30 27310 73225
MONI AGION TESSARAKONTA (Monastery) THERAPNES
On the road to Chrysafa
and about eight kilometers outside Sparti,
on an altitude of 400 meters northeast there is the monastery
of Agii Tessarakonta Martyres. It was first founded on the 13th century on
the mountain of Stamatira (within the of Sofroni) and today only a small chapel
remains within a cave where the hagiography bares the signature of the painter
Constantine Manassis. Because of the difficult weather conditions as well as various
enemy attacks the monks moved into the current new position and built the monastery
in 1615. With time an entire monastery center was constructed with the full cooperation
and support of the local population who contributed for the erection of the new
buildings.
During the difficult years a "hidden school" operated inside
the chapel of Zoodochos Pigi. In 1770 the chapel was blown up. Before the revolution
of 1821 the monastery was full of life and it’s wealth was substantial,
enough to employ numerous workers for the agricultural activities of the monastery.
The money that was gathered from those activities was often used as prisoners’
ransom payment and as a result after the end of the revolution the monastery ended
up in financial despair.
Theodoros Kolokotronis (the head of the revolution and generally believed
the father of the new nation) with a letter to the head of the monastery thanked
the monks for their support and their contribution to the fight of independence
from the Turks.
The wall paintings that are preserved till today (after the destruction
of 1770) were re-painted by the Crete priest and hagiographer Georgios Kalliterakis
following the commission of Paisios Zacharopoulos.
The folklore art gave the temple of the convent in the beginnings
of the 19th century. In 1980 the framed painting of the Agii Tessarakonta Martyres,
which is dated back to the 13th century, was stolen. Today in the convent are
kept various heirlooms and letters, one of which is the letter (a copy to be precise)
describing all the privileges of the monastery (which were the main reason why
all nearby monasteries wanted to be incorporated with the monastery of Agii Tessarakonta
Martyres). Also 82 handwriten documents exist in the the historical registry of
Sparti as well as various
older books.
The main chapel of the monastery (the Katholic) is a cross like church
with a cupola and honors the memory of the Agii Tessarakonta Martyres (Saint Tessarakonta
Martyrs). The monks in the monastery are mainly occupied with hagiography and
agriculture.
The main chapel of the monastery (the Katholic) is structured like
a cruciform with a dome (just like Agioritika) and honors the memory of the fallen
on the lake Sebastias Tessarakonta Martyres. In addition there are several holly
relics of several Saints. The monks nowadays are occupied with agriculture and
hagiography.
There are guestrooms in the convent for the convenience of the visitors.
Quite recently with the supervision of the Committee of Byzantine Antiques and
with the complete support of the Organization for the Employment of the Work Force,
parts of the monastery have been preserved and restored.
The monastery hosts the student camping associations of the Iera
Mitropolis of Monambasia and Sparti. It is indeed worthwhile to attend one
of the liturgies in the monastery. Days of festivity are the 9th May (Zoodochos
Pigi) and the 9th November (St Nektarios).
This text is cited Apr 2003 from the Municipality of Therapnes URL below, which contains image.
MONI ZERBITSAS (Monastery) FARIDA
Tel: +30 27310 35091
MYSTRAS (Village) PELOPONNISOS
Tel: +30 27310 83368
MYSTRAS (Byzantine settlement) PELOPONNISOS
Like a replica in miniature of the majestic form of Mt.
Taygetos, Mystras rises above the verdant valley of Eurotas. Historically, the site moves to the forefront after the Fourth Crusade, in 1204, when the crusaders establish the Latin empire (1204-1261) and other Latin states in the Byzantine lands they conquered. The region of Peloponnese was occupied by the Frankish knights and hence became the Principality of Achaea under the reigning family of the Villehardouins. William II of Villehardouin fortified Mystras and built the castle on the top of the hill in order to subdue the unruly mountain dwellers of Taygetos and to secure the defence of the fertile Lacedaemon. The castle had barely been completed when the Prince of Achaea, defeated by the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus at the battle of Pelagonia and made prisoner in 1259, was forced to cede as ransom to the Byzantines the three strongholds of Peloponnese, among them Mystras.
Mystras soon evolved into a major centre of the Byzantine empire, second only to the capital Constantinople. It was in Mystras, actually, that the Byzantine art and literature flourished for the last time before the spread of the Ottoman conquests in the mid-15th century. Mystras, the best preserved example of medieval walled town in the Greek region, fascinates the modern traveler with its castle, churches and the palatial complex of the ruling Byzantine dynasty, bearing witness to its bygone greatness. Private houses and mansions still standing today provide a rare source of information for the domestic architecture and urban planning of the late Medieval period.The 13th to early 15th centuries frescoes of Mystras' churches represent the peak that the Byzantine religious painting had reached: Some of the most important works of the 14th century will be found at Afendiko, Perivleptos includes a synthesis of rare aesthetic quality and deep theological significance, while at Pantanassa, the visitor is struck by the lengths to which the Byzantine painting has gone in respect of color range. This creative flourishing in arts coupled with the revival of the classical letters and especially philosophy was the cultural phenomenon that marked the late Byzantine empire, what has been called the "Palaeologan Renaissance".
NEAPOLI (Small town) PELOPONNISOS
SKALA (Small town) LACONIA
At the heart of the valley, also called the "Garden of Europe",
lies Skala, set among gorgeous orange groves and gardens. Not surprisingly, Skala
is famous for its oranges and garden produce. The old churches add to its attraction,
while the archaeological findings indicate that the region was inhabited since
3000 BC.
This text (extract) is cited March 2004 from the Prefecture
of Laconia tourist pamphlet.
SPARTI (Town) LACONIA
Sparta is the capital of the county of Lacedaimona
and the prefecture of Lacony
with 14.000 inhabitants. It is situated in the north west of the prefecture, to
the east of the mountain of Taigetos
at an altitude of 210m. The modern city in a fertile area of the valley of Evrotas,
was founded in the same spot as ancient Sparta
by enactment of the first king Othon in 1834. Its street layout is exceptional
with wide streets and spacious squares. The climate is Mediterranean and the average
yearly temperature 17.4 degrees Celsius while average yearly rainfall, even present
during summertime, is 817mm. Because of the particularity of the climate and the
fertile territory, the economy is mostly self - supported. The region's farming
and cattlerearing products are gathered and processed in the city's own industrial
units. Famed for its glorious historical past, Sparta has exquisite tokens of
civilization involving all periods of its long - lasting history. But as a modern
urban centre the city is a developing cultural power expressing its multidimensional
self through the organization and realization of a number of local events.
This text is cited Mar 2003 from the Municipality of Sparti URL below.
VRESTHENA (Village) INOUDAS
Tel: +30 27310 72379
The beautiful natural environment of Mt.
Parnon blends with the traditional colours of the villages. At Vresthena,
at an altitude of 750 m., there are hospitable tavernas and cafes to welcome those
visiting the marble Byzantine temple Gennisi tis Panagias. Five klm. to the north,
ate the mid-point of the distance to Karyes,
is the monastery of the Kimisi tis Panagias Vrestheniotissas.
This text (extract) is cited March 2004 from the Prefecture
of Laconia tourist pamphlet.
Receive our daily Newsletter with all the latest updates on the Greek Travel industry.
Subscribe now!
