Thursday 20 February 2014

My trip to the Peloponnese (7)- Mystras

If I don't go on with my trip to the Peloponnese now you will end up reading about it till Easter and February is fast ending.
So the next morning December 30th we started early.
I had to take some photos of one of my felted stones first during the warm morning light.
Then we hit the road. To go from Nafplio to Sparta is a wonderful route. You can see so much beauty around you.
The GPS took us from various little roads and up and up we reached Mystras.

 Mystras is a fortified town that has been uninhabited since the 1830s. It is magical to walk inside this Byzantine place feeling that at every nook some old spirits are keeping you company.



There are lots of churches.


 A small museum.

With a unique dress outside.


 Amazing architecture.




 Narrow roads.
 Beautiful green spots everywhere.

 Pantanassa Monastery the only inhabited monastery of the site.

With its cats.






 The palace which unfortunately one cannot see inside.

 Breathtaking views from the top.



Of course I took more photos with my stone while we were climbing higher up on Mt Taygetos.





 We had lunch at a restaurant nearby overlooking the valley.
 And left just in time before dark shadows fall on the empty walls of the town.

 Mystras is a must-see but you need to be able to walk for hours.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Ariadne
What stunning photos!
I love your felted stones (:

Sarah in Stitches said...

Wow, it's so beautiful! Thank you for sharing these pictures with us :D

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

An amazing day trip! I love the old churches, the collapsing walls and the amazing background! The cats add just the right touch!

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos! And thanks for your sweet comment too! : )

Valma said...

wow ! such an amazing place !
really a must-see indeed !
so beautiful, and your pictures are stunning
I really travelled this morning thanks to you =D
xxx

Christine said...

Oh my, that is just stunning. Thank you for sharing your photos

givi said...

I love your blog. Particularly this post. Beautiful photos. I want to go there!

Unknown said...

Lovely photos, as usual!

simply bev said...

What an amazing place and such beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing!

zina said...

Ι have never been to Mistras and I really should go! Beautiful pictures Ariadne

Unknown said...

I love Peloponesse! I have to visit Mystras

Anonymous said...

Κι εγώ πριν λίγα χρόνια επισκέφθηκα πρώτη φορά το Μυστρά. Και βεβαίως έχει μείνει στην ιστορία η απορία του γιου μου, "γιατί αυτή η εκκλησία έχει το σήμα της ΑΕΚ στο πάτωμα;"...

Christina(ArtDecorationCrafting) said...

Αγαπημένος προορισμός ο Μυστράς! Εγώ τον έχω επισκεφτεί ααααααπειρες φορές γιατί έχω παντρευτεί Μανιάτη, από τα σπήλαια Διρού οπότε μου πέφτει κοντά. Από την πρώτη φορά που διάβασα Βυζαντινή Ιστορία αυτός ο τόπος μου ασκούσε πάντα μια περίεργη επιρροή...

barbara@sparrowavenue said...

wonderful design: both architecture and your layout of photos.
It would appear that you had a very nice trip

mpiskotoupoli said...

Έχω πάει στο Μυστρά και είναι υπέροχα!!!Τέλειες φωτογραφίες!!!
Με ταξίδεψες ξανά...