4Monemvasia, Greece
Hidden behind a huge rock on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, Monemvasia feels like a secret medieval world.
The historic town is reached through a single entrance, immediately creating the sensation of stepping into another era. Inside, stone houses, Byzantine churches, arched doorways and narrow lanes wind through the settlement.
The town’s dramatic location above the Myrtoan Sea makes it particularly spectacular. Parts of the upper town are now ruins, while the lower town remains atmospheric and alive with small hotels, restaurants and cafés.
Monemvasia offers something very different from Greece’s famous island resorts: centuries of history, dramatic scenery and an unmistakably medieval atmosphere.
