Villehardouin's Castle, Mystras, Greece

Mystras, the ‘wonder of the Morea’, developed down the hillside from the fortress built in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William II of Villehardouin, at the top of a 620 m high hill overlooking Sparta.

The Principality of Achaea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica was captured by Theodore, the despot of Epirus, in 1224. After this, Achaea became for a while the dominant power in Greece.

The Franks surrendered the castle to the Byzantines in 1262, it was the centre of Byzantine power in southern Greece, first as the base of the military governor and from 1348 as the seat of the Despotate of Morea. Captured by the Turks in 1460, it was occupied thereafter by them and the Venetians.

Today impressive ruins of Villehardouin's Castle still remain.

References:

UNESCO

User Reviews

Magdalena Reszke (3 years ago)
Very nice walk up the hill (not a short one). Amazing how big it was. A must see. Beautiful views. 12€ entrance.

Remy (3 years ago)
Insanely large place with gorgeous views, it is a bit maze like though, and you better wear good shoes and are in good shape.

Greg Charalambopoulos (4 years ago)
It is a great place, which needs lots of time to cover it all. Visitors mat start either from entrance A, at the bottom, or B, on top. Entrance fee of €6-12, depending on the season, where kids are free. From entrance B onwards should also visit the castle, which is further 10' walk. Of great historical value, definitely a must.

maria teresa (4 years ago)
Amazing walking. If you want to look for bysantine pictures...is the best one!

Ronald Luiten (Rumsmurf) (4 years ago)
Site was really a revelation. Beautiful place with lots of nice views and visits. Best wear good shoes.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

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Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Villehardouin's Castle

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