October 28th, 2002 (Monday)
On Monday, we visted Mystras. The fortress was built in 1249 and like
other Byzantine fortified cities, it had three levels. The fortress
itself was the highest level and the lower two levels were
administrative and housing. Most of the houses were three stories
tall. The streets were narrow and twisted and often went through the
ground-level of many buildings. Burned repeatedly, the town has been
partly rebuilt. Rebuilding begain in the 1950s.
Here's a view of the lower levels from the fortress.
Behind the back wall of the fortress is a cliff.
Mystras is named after the surrounding area, Myzethra. So is a type
of Greek cheese.
We wandered around Mystras until about 15:30 then we drove up to
Diakofto on the northern coast of the Pelopenese.