The site of Sparta is completely surrounded by major mountain ranges. In contrast to other ancient Greek cities, Sparta was not a compact fortified city-state center with monumental civic and religious buildings. It was a loose collection of smaller villages spaced over a large rural area and 6 low hills. The highest of these knolls served as the acropolis and location for the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos. In the Hellenistic period a theatre, stoa and agora were built near the acropolis but the Temple of Athena and the earlier remains at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia on the West bank of the Eurotas are almost the only archaeological remains from Archaic and Classical Sparta.
The complex of the ruins of Mystras offers the image of a city with a brilliant destiny that was deserted by men and threatened by the return of encroaching vegetation which is splitting the walls and covering the slopes, thus destroying here and there fragile traces of history. In 1989 the ruins including the fortress palace , churches and monasteries were named a Unesco World Heritage Site!Visit the mystical tower of Mystras and let yourself be captivated by this destination’s medieval splendour. Wander around the castle city and sense through the silence the city’s sheer grandeur.
Stroll leisurely through the “Kastro” ( the Frankish Castle ) the Upper Town and Lower Town whose architecture creates a dreamy setting. With your minds eyes visualize Frankish princes and princesses living in palatial mansions;foreign delegations arriving bearing gifts and peasant pilgrims or traders filling the bustling streets.
Monemvasia in Greece is one of the most romantic places in the country. A medieval castle Town exclusively carved on the slopes of a rock. This fantastic place was originally constructed in the Medieval Ages and has been continuously inhabited since then.A World Cultural Heritage monument and a major attraction for every traveller in the Peloponnese and the whole of Greece it has a unique magical atmosphere and a fascinating history. Monuments and churches are scattered through out the old town.
An important archaeological collection is housed in the old mosque in the Square of Elkomenos Christos. Today most of the old mansions have been converted into guesthouses and boutique hotels. Authentic tavernas, fabulous restaurants and cosy coffee shops also add to the spark of Monemvasia. Outside the Rock, there is a new modern town with many tourist facilities. Built in the shadow of the Rock on which the Medieval fortress stands, the new town of Monemvasia has become a lively tourist destination in its own right. A large variety of hotels restaurants and coffee bars attract thousands of visitors all year round . Both within and around Monemvasia are a number of excellent clean,crystal clear beaches.
Posted By : Marianne K
This two-day private tour of Sparta, Mystra and Monemvassia was captivating and certainly a great way to end our tour of the Peloponnese. We wish we had more time.
Tas, was our driver - he is amazing!!! Very knowledgeable and such a pleasent man.
At Mystras, we were transported back in time... the well-preserved Byzantine ruins were remarkable. The beauty and serenity of the ancient city left us speechless. Our guide Georgia's passion for history really brought Mystras to life.
The highlight of our journey was undoubtedly the town of Monemvasia. Felt like we were in a fairytale. Overnighting here as magical and the restaurants within the castle walls all looked amazing. Our experience with Ancient Greece Tours surpassed all expectations, leaving us with cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you once again for an unforgettable adventure! We will definitely tell our friends.
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Posted On : 2024-05-08 10:39:27 
Posted By : AHDMD
Since we had planned to spend 3 nights in Monemvasia, I contacted Ancient Greece Tours & Transfer to arrange the transportation for us between Athens and Monemvasia.
Yiannis, our driver, was awesome! He was very attentive to our need for coffee breaks and restroom stops. He spoke great English and was very knowledgeable about Greek mythology, history and culture. We asked many questions and learned a lot from him. The drive, 4.5 hours each way, didn’t seem that long with interesting conversations with him.
Monemvasia is a unique destination with amazing historical sites and beautiful view. On our way there, we visited Mystras for about 2 hours. It was the last major Byzantine culture center by the 15th century and is now an UNESCO site.
We truly enjoyed the Monemvasia-Mystras tour and would highly recommend it with Yiannis!
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Posted On : 2023-05-25 17:28:52
Posted By : Lasc0025
It was an absolutely amazing experience, Tas our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and very considerate. I would recommend this company to anyone, this trip meant a great deal to us and the service was above and beyond. I learned a lot, I was able to relax and enjoy myself and my grandmother was able to go at her own pace, it was a lovely tour. For the Tripadvisor category, I was with my elderly grandmother, not young children, but there was no option to chose family travel without children.
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Posted On : 2023-05-08 15:31:32
Posted By : Maxence_G
Our two day trip went really well! Our taxi guide was brilliant, very understanding of our desires and gave us time to enjoy each place. We were in no rush for time.
In addition, he gave us great places to eat and drink and we have never been disappointed!
I recommend this tour and this taxi guide which was awesome!
Thank you again 😄
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Posted On : 2020-08-05 13:14:27 
Posted By : Winelovesmel
I was very happy with this tour and the cape sounion sunset tour that I booked through Ancient Greece tours! Nothing was a hassle for the owner Tas, who tailed the tours to our needs. I travelled with my two parents, who also really enjoyed the tours. The car was clean, we had bottles of water and cookies provided and wifi in the car. Tas also took us to great restaurants, excellent food and good prices. Tas was also an informative tour guide about all the places we visited! So if you want to avoid big tour groups and travel in comfort and style, I would definitely recommend Ancient Greece Tours! Thanks Tas and team!
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Posted On : 2019-10-28 00:40:10
