Monemvasia, the Mont Saint Michel of Greece. Yeah, you got it right. Did you know Greece has got its Mont Saint Michel, too?
Driving southwards along the eastern coast of Peloponnese, after have left Nafplio and have gone throughout the Kyouria region, you arrive to Gefyra, a little distinctive seaside.
Monemvasia: the Mont Saint Michel of Greece
Already from far you can sight this enormous rock that today is linked to land exactly like its French equivalent.
But you can admire its beauty only once arrived to Gefyra: in fact, both the wonderful completely restored village and the connecting bridge are hidden until the end creating a charming wait.
Of course, it’s one of the most visited places in Greece, crowded by hordes of tourists in Summer. So my tip is always the same: go there out of season.
Visiting Monemvasia out of season
We reach it in any day at the end of October. Choppy sea and the non-stop wind create a surreal atmosphere. It is practically deserted.
It’s nice walking along its stone streets and the shoots you can take are really unique.
If you visit it in this period of the year you won’t have any problems in finding a parking along the road taking to the entrance. Otherwise, from the square near the bridge the shuttles carrying you to the entrance leave non-stop.
To the only entrance. Its name precisely comes from it.
The village is full of little shops, venues, cafés and little restaurants one more beautiful than the other: from the souvenirs to foodstuff, from the typical products to the artists showing their works in this so special labyrinth.
Sleeping in Monemvasia
Inside the village you can also sleeping, so we chose a hotel just outside: at the end of the bridge, in the centre of the village, with a very beautiful room and a wonderful view of the rock.
It is a very cheap and high quality hotel. Furthermore it has got a restaurant directly on the sea, with inside tables and also outside tables on the little harbour: it offers an exceptional typical menu with absolutely affordable prices.
Don’t you believe? Look at here how much we spent to sleep the three of us!
Very cared room, a new bathroom…how was it possible?
The strategies are always the same and they are explained in the Low Cost Travel Guide. Because travelling isn’t free but it can cost much less than what you usually think.
We keep walking. As a matter of interest: it seems that inside this village only 7 people live permanently.
The hotels and the rooms are one more beautiful than the other. What’s better than enjoy a cocktail from a little terrace like this admiring the sea at sunset?
The evening in Monemvasia
At sunset the rock takes a unique colour and it keeps still there in centuries, making admiring and admiring again.
Then the night is pure magic inside the village: the lights turn on, candles create games of lights with their trembling light. Then the led placed with a masterly skill complete the sight of this entirely stone village.
It’s easy getting lost among the little streets and you wouldn’t go away anymore.
Then it’s even easiest spending a fortune in items and souvenirs!
Late in the afternoon wind is rising and the sea shows to us its power.
I love cold and the winter sea certainly more than Summer but you already know this.
On the other hand…it’s enough to get covered, isn’t it?
Even if these little streets with their draughts test you a bit.
But then you find these little tables that makes you wish to stop even if it’s cold.
Practical information
- Admittance to the rock is free,
- Parking are not so many but the shuttle is frequent, above all in high season,
- Eating and sleeping inside the rock it costs more but the evening is not to be missed. Whether you decide to stop inside or outside for the stay, a night walking is de rigueur.
- Don’t forget you have to carry by hand your luggage. Alternatively, you can use the pages with wheelbarrow which will take them to your hotel
