The Byzantine castle-town of Monemvasia, the "stone ship" of Ritsos stands patiently at the southeast end of Laconic land, taking guests to a dreamy journey through time and history. Castles and walls, old houses, narrow cobbled streets, churches, old arches, escutcheons, imperial marble thrones, byzantine icons give the impression of an imaginary city, not touched the passage of time.
Six kilometers northwest of Sparta, on a rocky hillside, in the north of Taygetos, stands the castle of Mystras with its ruined state. The hill with the sharp and conical form, called Mystras or Myzythras and because of its strategic position, was alone great natural fortress. The history of Mystras starts in mid 13th century when the conquest of the Peloponnese by the Franks was completed. The castle was built in 1249 by William II Villehardouin on the hilltop of the Byzantine castle-city and after the battle of Pelagonia acquired by the Byzantines Mystras was built in its place, which was the capital of the Despotate.
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