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Church · Monemvasia, Peloponeso
Cidade alta e Igreja de Agia Sofia
Byzantine church from the 12th century on the edge of the cliff, atop the rock, amid the ruined upper town: a dome with 16 windows, frescoes and, around it, cisterns, walls and a 300-meter view over the sea.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cidade alta e Igreja de Agia Sofia
The upper town of Monemvasia occupied the top of the rock, a plateau 300 meters high, and was abandoned in the 19th century. What remains are the walls, the cisterns that collected rainwater, the foundations of hundreds of houses and a whole church: Agia Sofia, on the edge of the abyss on the north side. You climb from the lower town by a zigzag stone path with fortified gates in about 20 minutes.
The church is dated to around 1150 and was originally dedicated to the Virgin Odigitria, who shows the way; the name Agia Sofia is later. It is an octagonal type with a dome, rare and refined, with a central hall 14 by 14 meters and a dome 7 meters in diameter pierced by 16 windows. Under the Ottomans it became a mosque, with a minaret and mihrab; after independence it returned to being a church, and a 1950s restoration recovered Byzantine elements. Frescoes and a columned portico remain at the entrance.
The surrounding plateau is a walk among ruins and herbs, with the large cistern, the remains of the Venetian castle at the highest point and views over the lower town, Cape Maleas and the open sea. There is no shade or handrail on the edges.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1½ to 2 hours, including the climb and the return across the plateau.
Best time
Early in the morning or late afternoon; never in the middle of a summer day because there is no shade. On windy days the climb can be unpleasant. The church is usually open during the site's hours; confirm at the entrance to the lower town.
How to get there
The ascent path starts in the lower town, behind the main street, near the praça do Elkomenos, with signs. It's about 20 minutes of stone steps and ramps to the high town gate, and another 10 minutes to the church.
Tip
Rubber-soled shoes, water and a hat. Do not approach the cliff edges — there is no protection. Climb late in the afternoon and return before dark, because the path has no lighting.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cidade alta e Igreja de Agia Sofia
Is the climb to the upper town difficult?
It’s a climb of about 20 minutes along a stone zigzag path, with uneven steps. It doesn’t require special fitness, but you need sturdy footwear and water, and it’s tough in the midday heat.
What remains of the upper town?
Walls, cisterns, house foundations, the castle at the highest point and the church of Agia Sofia, intact, with a dome and frescoes. The upper town was abandoned in the 19th century.
Why was the church once a mosque?
Monemvasia was Ottoman in two periods, from 1540 to 1690 and from 1715 to 1821. In those years the church gained a minaret and a mihrab and was called the Fethiye mosque. The minaret was demolished after independence.