MYSTRA
Distance from Mareggio: 51km
Since 1989, Mystra has been a UNESCO World Heritage site. The well-known Byzantine city is located 6 km Southwest of Sparta and 51 km from Mareggio Exclusive Residences & Suites, which is on the outskirts of Gytheio. It was founded when the Peloponnese was granted to the Frankish family of Villehardouin and the Principality of Achaea was formed after the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders in 1204. In 1249 William II of Villehardouin erected on the rise called Mystra or Myzithras a fortress that developed into one of the most important Peloponnesian fortress-cities and one of the most notable post-Byzantine cities. In 1289 the seat of government of the -once again Byzantine- Peloponnese was moved from Monemvasia to Mystra and in 1349 Mystra became the capital of the semi-autonomous Despotate of Morea. The penultimate ruler of Mystra was Constantine Paleologos Xi, the last Byzantine Emperor. In 1460, Mystra was ceded to the Ottomans. From this point on it began its decline, eventually leading to its destruction in 1770, during the Orlov period, by Ottoman-Albanians.
