Monemvasia
From CruisersWiki
| Monemvasia
| |
 Chart of Monemvasia area |
Monemvasía (Μονεμβασία) or Monemvasiá (Μονεμβασιά) is a Byzantine town built on a small peninsula separated from the mainland of the Peloponnesos by a narrow neck. The town is enclosed by strong fortifications and protected by a large castle on the steep summit of the peninsula.
The Castle of Monemvasia was famous in the middle ages because it was never sacked. The town's other claim to fame is associated with the celebrated Malvasia grape variety, which is used to make sweet - frequently fortified - wines in many parts of the Mediterranean. The variety is often known (especially in Madeira, where it is used to make the renowned Madeira wine) as Malmsey, thought to be a corruption of the name Monemvasia. Today, there are many people from Athens who have bought and restored old houses. Tavernas and boutiques have followed and Monemvasia these days is a fairly fashionable place.
Charts
- BA
- 1030 Southern entrance channels to the Aegean Sea
- Imray-Tetra
- G15 Southern Peloponnisos
- NIMA
- 54303 Lakonikos Kolpos S Greece
- Greek
- 414 Poros mechri Monemvasia
Weather
See Aegean Sea.
Passages
Communication
- Coast Guard - VHF channel 12
- Olympia Radio - VHF channels 85 & 86
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
All the approaches to are straightforward, but Danger: with a strong meltemi there are fierce gusts in the bay.
Berthing
There are several anchoring possibilities: moor to the small harbor N of the road, moor in the new "marina", or anchor off N of Monemvasia.
Monemvasia Harbor
The harbor of Monemvasia is a secure harbor but it is usually crowded with commercial vessels and when the meltemi blows it develops an uncomfortable swell. In calm days, without meltemi there is liable to be a rather brisk SW breeze during the night. This can sometimes be accelerated by katabatic winds and gusts of 30 - 40 knots are not uncommon.
Anchor in 5 m well inside the mole, away from the end of the jetty used by ferries and hydrofoils. The bottom is soft sand with rocks and weed and at spots provides bad holding, so make sure you test your anchor. Also stay clear from the shallow areas near the road and SW. Use plenty of fenders.Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Anchorages
S of Monemvasia Harbor
S of Monemvasia Harbor [[Monemvasia#S of Monemvasia Harbor|S of Monemvasia Harbor]] 36°41.05′N, 23°02.48′E Ormos Paleó
Ormos Kremídhi
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
Water
| Electricity |
| ? | Toilets |
| ? | Showers |
| N/A (Not Available). | Laundry |
| In the new town, delivery will be made | Garbage |
| There are bins around the harbor & marina | header |
| Supplies | Fuel
|
| Bottled gas | ? |
| Chandlers | None |
| Services | |
| Repairs | N/A |
| Internet | In Internet cafés. Also the free Monemvasia WiFi city council net. |
| Mobile connectivity | Good signal |
| Vehicle rentals | In the town |
Provisioning
There are several supermarkets in the the town as well as specialty stores.
Eating out
- There is excellent food in the lower Castle
- Good food at the Kanoni restaurant in the lower Castle
Transportation
There are daily buses to Athens. For taxi call Mr. Yiorgos +30 6973 531 071 or Mr. Stathis +30 6944 978 675.
Tourism
Places to Visit
The Castle & Citadel
Of course one here must visit the Castle of Monemvasia, both the upscale lower and the deserted upper. While wandering in the lovely alleys of the lower castle do visit the Archaeological Collection which is housed in the Moslem Mosque and do stop for a cup of coffee at one of the cafés on the main narrow street.
On the upper castle do not miss the Church of Ayia Sophia (Holy Wisdom). Also, gaze at the sea and try to imagine what life must have been here during the days of the Byzantium.
Sparta & Mystras
From Monemvasía you can either take a taxi or rent a car and visit Sparta and the Byzantine ghost town of Mystras. They are about 1 hr drive.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Monemvasia at the Wikipedia
- Castle of Monemvasia
References
See Greece.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- The water in the "Marina" is freely available and the ferry and hydrofoil services are ended. --OldBawley
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Monemvasia and this page's details validated:
- September 2007 --Istioploos
Travels with S/Y Thetis
- July 2014 --OldBawley
| This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly. |
 Contributors to this page |
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Names: Istioploos, Athene of Lymington |
