The ruined city of Mystras: One of the most impressive places in Greece

The Greeks have always been able to build: the Acropolis, the city fortress of Athens, is today one of the most famous buildings in the world.

But Greece boasts many more impressive ruins that tell a story – one of them being the city of Mystras. It's located in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula, only about five kilometers west of Sparta. You've probably heard of this place before.

Mystras dates back to the time of the Byzantine Empire, also known as Byzantium. A brief digression: Byzantium existed as a continuation of the Roman Empire from 395 to 1453 and stretched across present-day Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey, although its size varied.

At times, parts of present-day Italy, Syria, Israel, Palestine, Tunisia and Egypt were also included.

Over the course of numerous imperial reigns and wars, the extent of the Christian empire changed repeatedly until it finally collapsed in 1453. Above all, the art and architecture of the Byzantine era have left their mark on world history.

Mystras (also spelled Mistras in German) was built as a hilltop fortress in 1249, commissioned by the Frankish prince William II. Over time, however, more and more people settled here – 20,000 at its peak – and they turned Mystras into a flourishing city.

In the 14th and 15th centuries, Mystras was even the capital of the Peloponnese peninsula and an important cultural, artistic, religious and political center in the Byzantine Empire.

After the Ottoman Empire replaced the Byzantine Empire, the city steadily declined in importance. It was repeatedly devastated in subsequent battles and finally so badly destroyed in 1825 that it was never rebuilt.

And today? As a visitor, one can only imagine how vibrant life once was in Mystras. The medieval churches, the palace, the fortress, the monastery, and countless houses and villas climb a steep hill, overlooking the Evrotas Valley.

The buildings, made of grey, sand-colored stone and with red roofs, stand out against the green landscape.

Visitors wander through winding alleyways, arched gateways, past towering columns, and up countless steps. The city's buildings, some more dilapidated than others, showcase a variety of architectural styles: from Byzantine Greek and Gothic to Venetian.

If you visit Mystras, it's best to wear sturdy shoes – the climb to the ruined city is steep! You also have to pay an entrance fee of 20 euros.

Then you can admire the centuries-old murals and religious artifacts in the monasteries and churches, and walk in the winding alleys on the green hillside in the footsteps of the Byzantines.

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