• Judith BowmanTravelerGreece 2025
    1Gytheio on the way to Monemvasia
    MonemvasiaIt was hard to walk through the crowds.1It was difficult to find a park. A small car like this would be useful.At the Fjord.And looking in the other direction.Small roadside shrines are everywhere along the roads.A bit less crowded alleyways on our second visit.1Looking down to the lower town.Hagia Sofia on the upper town.3 Windstar cruise ships arrived while we were visiting.1You can just see the town clinging to the side of the rock on the right hand side.The view from across the causeway. The town is on the other side of the rock.

    Monemvasia

    May 28 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We stayed in the town adjacent to Monemvasia. Monemvasia is a large rock fortress which was inhabited over the centries by Byzantine traders, and ruled back and forth by the Ottomans and Venetions. The lower part of the town is very picturesque with narrow cobblestone lanes while the upper part of the town at the top of the rock (about 300m) is in ruins scattered over the plateau.
    Our first visit coincided with the arrival of a couple of bus loads of visitors and a thunderstorm so we had a quick look and fled back to our car.
    Our next visit was less crowded and we climbed to the top of the rock which had amazing views up and down the coast. Most of the buildings in the lower town contain small hotels, restaurants and trinket shops along charming winding alleyways. Plus numerous churches.
    We also took a drive up the coast to Greece's only 'fjord ' to the port of Gerakas which was rather lovely; just a small settlement along the waterfront with a couple of tavernas, a couple of fishing boats and a swimming deck.    Read more