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Lakonia
Overview
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Lakonia, home of the ancient Spartans, is the most untouched and isolated part of the region. Hidden under the bulk of Mt. Taygetos, the mysterious society of the Mani peninsula warded off pirates (while simultaneously acquiring their own pirating skills) in stone-built towers that can still be seen today.
Most anyone who drives along the coastal roads of Mani, and ventures inland to visit the villages, will proclaim this to be among the most wild and beautiful coastlines in the country. For those interested in the Byzantine period, there are several of incredible beauty and fascination: among them, Mystras, the so-called “Florence of the East”, and Monemvasia, which means “Only one way in” – both are towns which flourished in the Medieval period, and which attract many visitors due to their historical importance.
Visiting Lakonia is the closest you will probably ever come to a trip in a time machine to the Medieval period. Between Monemvasia, Geraki, Mystras, and Mani, this is a land absolutely overwhelming in Byzantine and Medieval history and architecture. Although most people would probably first think of Ancient Sparta, Lakonia is more about Medieval Greece. Sparta was one of the most important Ancient Greek cities, but the city did not consider monument building to be a high priority. From the site of Ancient Sparta, very little remains – a theater, a stoa, some inscriptions, some bits of a temple to Artemis. But venture out of the modern city of Sparta, and explore the perhaps lesser-known parts of Lakonia. |
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