From the pretty seaside town of Gefyra one looks out at the large brown rock at the end of a causeway and
wonders where the town of Monemvasia actually is. But, rounding the edge of the rock by road, the authentic medieval
battlement and the entrance to a castle fortress become apparent. Once through the door of the crenellated stone wall
(thirteenth century) you move right into the Middle Ages. It’s a stunning place, one of my very favourite destinations
for R&R in all Greece. My pictures show Gefyra and its pretty marina, tavernas, a huge octopus hanging out to dry, etc.
Then you can see the approaches to Monemvasia itself, the entrance, and the Byzantine town within. There are shops
incorporated into the old buildings and tavernas, and churches all beautifully preserved, particularly the thirteenth century
Cathedral of Christ in Chains. The restored Malvasia Hotel is a wonderful place to stay. I have also included some
pictures of Greek dancing in national costumes, at a fascinating concert at Gefyra.
 0600 Gefyra, from Monemvasia P1090694.JPG |
 0601Gefyra, from Monemvasia P1040111.JPG |
 0602 Gefyra from other side of the causeway P1090697.JPG |
 0603 Across the road from 602 P1090699.JPG |
 0604 Gefyra, from causeway P1090701 (2).JPG |
 0605 Gefyra P1040119.JPG |
 0606 Towards Gefyra Marina P1040387.JPG |
 0607 Gefyra Marina P1040124.JPG |
 0607a Gefyra Marina P1090707 (2).JPG |
 0607b Gefyra Marina P1040138.JPG |
 0608 Boats, Gefyra P1040120.JPG |
 0609 The Rock from Gefyra Marina P1090706 (2).JPG |
 0609a The Rock from Gefyra Marina P1090704 (2).JPG |
 0610 Octopus for dinner, Gefyra DSC05887.JPG |
 0610a More octopus, Gefyra DSC05888.JPG |
 0611 Beach, Gefyra P1040326 (2).JPG |
 0612 The Rock from Gefyra Beach P1090894.JPG |
 0612a The Rock P1090734.JPG |
 0613 Road from Gefyra to Monemvasia P1040100.JPG |
 0614 Across the causeway towards the Rock P1040328.JPG |
 0615 First view of Castle Battlements, Monemvasia P1040349.JPG |
 0616 The road ends here, Monemvasia DSC06056.JPG |
 0617 Detail of castle wall, Monemvasia P1090869 (2).JPG |
 0618 Entrance to Monemvasia P1090868.JPG |
 0619 Doorway to Castle and Town of Monemvasia P1040348.JPG |
 0620 Ancient door, Monemvasia P1090863.JPG |
 0621 Only transport into Monemvasia P1040314.JPG |
 0622 Into the Castle, Monemvasia P1040338.JPG |
 0623 Main Street of Monemvasia from tunnel P1040351 (2).JPG |
 0624 Main Street, Monemvasia DSC06033.JPG |
 0625 Main Street, Monemvasia P1040339.JPG |
 0626 Main Street, Monemvasia P1040234.JPG |
 0627 Under the vines, Main Street, Monemvasia P1040182.JPG |
 0628 Main Street, Monemvasia P1040341.JPG |
 0629 Main Street Taverna, Monemvasia P1040236.JPG |
 0630 Approaching Central Square Monemvasia P1090646.JPG |
 0631 Shop, Monemvasia P1090789.JPG |
 0632 Shop, Monemvasia P1090643.JPG |
 0633 Shop window, Monemvasia DSC05924.JPG |
 0634 Shop, Monemvasia P1090787.JPG |
 0635 Shop, Monemvasia P090791.JPG |
 0636 Shops at Night, Monemvasia P1090811.JPG |
 0637 Taverna at night, Monemvasia P1090814.JPG |
 0638 Taverna Main Street, Monemvasia P1090808.JPG |
 0639 Restaurant, Monemvasia DSC05930.JPG |
 0640 Restaurant balcony and view, Monemvasia P1040140.JPG |
 0641 View of Square from Restaurant, Monemvasia P1040190.JPG |
 0642 Garden Restaurant, Monemvasia DSC05996.JPG |
 0643 Restaurant, Monemvasia DSC05995.JPG |
 0644 Restored Malvasia Hotel, Monemvasia DSC05895.JPG |
 0645 Old walls, Monemvasia DSC05956.JPG |
 0646 Houses and Ruins, Monemvasia P1040095.JPG |
 0647 Restored house & garden, Monemvasia P1090689.JPG |
 0648 Old restored houses, Monemvasia DSC05957.JPG |
 0649 Doorway, Monemvasia DSC05904.JPG |
 0650 Old restored house, Monemvasia P1040222.JPG |
 0651 Old restored houses, Monemvasia P1040218.JPG |
 0652 Old restored houses P1090845.JPG |
 0653 Steps and Arches, Monemvasia P1040149.JPG |
 0654 Pathway, Monemvasia P1090660.JPG |
 0655 Restored church and stone walling, Monemvasia P1090848.JPG |
 0656 Restored Guesthouse, Monemvasia DSC05916.JPG |
 0657 Restored houses, Monemvasia P1090752.JPG |
 0658 Old Stones and restoration work, Monemvasia P1040167.JPG |
 0659 Restored buildings now Guesthouses, Monemvasia P1040198.JPG |
 0660 Ancient restored building with original chimney, Monemvasia P1040221.JPG |
 0660a Another view of 660, Monemvasia P1090842.JPG |
 0661 Restoration work, Monemvasia P1040156.JPG |
 0662 Beautiful bougainvillea, Monemvasia P1090762.JPG |
 0663 Pathway to Outside Wall, Monemvasia P1040258.JPG |
 0664 Coming out of church, Monemvasia P1090821.JPG |
 0665 View of the town, Monemvasia P1090843.JPG |
 0666 Main Square, Monemvasia P1090598 (2).JPG |
 0667 Main Square, Monemvasia P1090602.JPG |
 0668 Cathedral of Christ in Chains, Monemvasia P1090743 (2).JPG |
 0669 Another view Cathedral and Square, Monemvasia P1040176.JPG |
 0670 Cannon, Main Square, Monemvasia P1040179.JPG |
 0671 Christening party, outside Cathedral, Monemvasia P1040253.JPG |
 0672 Bell Tower, Cathedral, Momemvasia P1040263.JPG |
 0672a Bell Tower, Monemvasia P1040264.JPG |
 0673 Top of the main wall, Monemvasia P1090858.JPG |
 0673a Main wall, Monemvasia P1090859.JPG |
 0674 Sea Wall, Monemvasia P1090751.JPG |
 0675 Sea Wall, Monemvasia P1090833 (2).JPG |
 0676 Sea wall, Monemvasia P1040209.JPG |
 0677 Tunnel and sea wall, Monemvasia P1090826.JPG |
 0678 AncientSea Wall, Monemvasia P1040204.JPG |
 0679 The Beach, Monemvasia P1090655.JPG |
 0680 Far corner of Sea Wall, Monemvasia P1090760.JPG |
 0681 Outside Wall of Monemvasia P1040200.JPG |
 0682 Outside Wall of Monemvasia P1090622.JPG |
 0683 Stairway to Top of Castle, Monemvasia P1040279.JPG |
 0684 View to Top of Castle, Monemvasia P1040171.JPG |
 0685 Restored house at top of Monemvasia P1040275.JPG |
 0686 View of Myrtoon Sea, from Monemvasia P1040094 (3).JPG |
 0687 View of Monemvasia P1040094 (3).JPG |
 0687a Further up the hill, Monemvasia P1040094 (2).JPG |
 0688 Rooftops, Monemvasia P1090621.JPG |
 0689 Monemvasia from top P1040276.JPG |
 0690 Monemvasia from Top P1040290.JPG |
 0691 View from Steps to Top, Monemvasia P1090857.JPG |
 0692 View from steps, Monemvasia P1090853.JPG |
 0693 View from steps, Monemvasia P1090856.JPG |
 0694 Night, Monemvasia DSC06081.JPG |
 0695 This way out, Monemvasia DSC05923.JPG |
 0696 Greek dancer, Gefyra P1090927.JPG |
 0696a Greek dancers, Gefyra P1090932.JPG |
 0696b Greek dancers, Gefyra P1090950.JPG |
 0697 Greek dancers, Gefyra P1090981.JPG |
 0697a Greek dancers, Gefyra P1100038.JPG |
 0697b Greek dancers, Gefyra P1100057.JPG |
 0698 Cruise boat at dusk, Gefyra P1090905.JPG |
 0699 Sunset, Gefyra P1100081.JPG |
