A Byzantine city climbing the slopes above Sparta
Mystras belongs to medieval rather than ancient Greece, but no serious archaeological circuit through Laconia should pass it by. The fortified settlement rose after the Fourth Crusade and became a major late Byzantine political and cultural centre. Frescoed churches, palace buildings, houses and working convent spaces climb between lower and upper gates.
The site is very steep. With two drivers or a taxi, enter at the upper gate and descend to a car collected below; otherwise allow three to four hours for the return climb. Carry water, respect active religious spaces and avoid midday summer heat. Sleep nearby so the visit can begin at opening, then treat ancient Sparta as the shorter companion site.
Good to know
UNESCO, Byzantine, Fortified city, Frescoes, and Steep site
