thumb|Mystras in 2026

Mystras or Mistras (), also known in the Chronicle of the Morea as Myzethras or Myzithras (Μυζηθρᾶς), is a fortified town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Situated in the Taygetus range, above ancient Sparta, and below a "Frankish" castle, it served as the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries, experiencing a period of prosperity and cultural flowering during the Palaeologan Renaissance, attracting artists, architects, and intellectuals such as Gemistos Plethon. The last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, was despot of Mystras before coming to the throne of Constantinople.

Mystras remained inhabited throughout the Ottoman period, when foreign travellers mistook it for ancient Sparta. In the 1830s, it was abandoned and the new town of Sparta was built, approximately eight kilometres to the east. The 2011 local government reform attached it to the municipality of Sparta.

As an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Byzantine city and because of its testimony to the development of Late Byzantine and Post-byzantine art, Mystras was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1989.

Description

Mystras is situated on a slope of the Taygetos mountains. The archaeological site stands above the modern village of Mystras and the city of Sparta. The greenery surrounding the area is composed mainly of pines and cypresses. There are small rivers and lakes nearby. The city's architecture was influenced by the "Helladic" school of Byzantine architecture, and many structures were informed by the architecture of Constantinople. Under Ottoman rule it became part of the Sanjak of Mezistre. The Venetians occupied it from 1687 to 1715, but otherwise the Ottomans held it until 1821. The city joined the Orlov revolt in 1770. It was looted by Ottoman Albanians and the metropolitan bishop Ananias executed, despite having saved several Albanian lives in the uprising. A great number of local Greeks were also killed by the Albanian groups, while several children were sold into slavery. Mystras was left in ruins and this event was a significant factor leading up to its abandonment.

Modern years

thumb|Photo of the palace in Mistra, Mystras Greece

The final straw for Mystras came in 1825 during the Greek war of Independence when Egyptians under the rule of Ibrahim massacred the local population and destroyed the local area. The town was rebuilt 9 km away under the name Sparta in 1831. Most families moved to Sparta, but a few decided to move instead to New Mystras, a small village in the countryside. This process of relocation was completed in 1953 when the remaining properties were confiscated by the municipality. Visitors can reach the ruins via the modern city of Sparti, which is only a few miles from Mystras.

Subdivisions

The municipal unit Mystras is subdivided into the following communities:

  • Agia Eirini
  • Agios Ioannis Lakedaimonas
  • Anavryti
  • Barsinikos
  • Longastra
  • Magoula, the former municipal seat of Mystras.
  • Mystras
  • Paroreio
  • Soustianoi
  • Trypi

Historical population

{| class=wikitable

! Year !! Municipal district !! Municipal unit

|-

| 1981 || 920 || –

|-

| 1991 || 525 || 4,592

|-

| 2001 || 807 || 4,608

|-

| 2011 || 832 || 4,265

|-

| 2021 || 724 || 4,238

|}

Notable people

thumb|right|140px|[[Gemistus Pletho]]

People from Mystras

  • Manuel Kantakouzenos, first Despot of Morea

People buried in Mystras

  • John VI Kantakouzenos
  • Manuel Kantakouzenos
  • Gemistos Plethon
  • Theodora Tocco
  • Cleofe Malatesta

Plan

thumb|600px|Plan of Mystras after works by G. Millet (1910) and M. Chatzidakis (1981).

  • 1. Main entrance;
  • 2. Metropolis;
  • 3. Evangelistria Church;
  • 4. Church of Saints Theodores;
  • 5. Hodigitria-Afendiko;
  • 6. Monemvasia Gate;
  • 7. Church of Saint Nicholas;
  • 8. Despot's Palace and square;
  • 9. Nauplia Gate;
  • 10. Upper entrance to the citadel;
  • 11. Church of Hagia Sophia;
  • 12. Small Palace;
  • 13. Citadel;
  • 14. Mavroporta;
  • 15. Pantanassa;
  • 16. Church of the Taxiarchs;
  • 17. House of John Phrangopoulos;
  • 18. Peribleptos Monastery;
  • 19. Church of Saint George;
  • 20. Krevatas House;
  • 21. Marmara (entrance);
  • 22. Aï-Yannakis;
  • 23. Laskaris' House;
  • 24. Church of Saint Christopher;
  • 25. Ruins;
  • 26. Church of Saint Kyriaki.

<gallery class="center">

File:Hill of Mystras, Villehardouin's Castle (Greece 2017).jpg|Hill of Mystras

File:Mistra 12.jpg|Metropolis of Mystras (St Demetrius)

File:Metropolis of Mystras, inside, imperial eagle.JPG|The Byzantine eagle, Metropolis

File:Peribleptos.jpg|Monastery of Peribleptos

File:Mystras Fortress2.JPG|Entrance of the fortress (view from the inside)

File:Panorama from the top of Villehardouin's Castle, Mystras, Greece (2017).jpg|Panorama from the top of Villehardouin's Castle

File:Evangelistria 05.JPG|Evangelistria's church

File:Mystras, hodigitria 01.JPG|Hodigitria church

File:Meister der Aphentico-Kirche in Mistra 002.jpg|Fresco at Hodigitria's church

File:Town of mystras 01.JPG|A street at the town of Mystras

File:Despot's Palace (Mystras, Greece, 2017).jpg|Despot's Palace (2017)

File:Mistra 1.jpg|Pantanassa's monastery

File:View from Villehardouin's Castle towards Despot's Palace in Mystras (2017).jpg|View from Villehardouin's Castle

File:Mystras - Upper city.jpg|Upper City

File:Mystras - Middle City.jpg|Middle City

File:Mystra, porta 01.JPG|A Gate

File:Mystras église.jpg|Agioi Theodoroi

File:Mistra 3.jpg|St. George

File:Mistra 8.jpg|Agia Sofia

</gallery>

See also

  • List of settlements in Laconia
  • Despotate of Mystras
  • Stefanos Sinos

References

Sources