Monemvasia, Greece

The castle town of Monemvasia is among the most impressive destinations in Greece. Located on the southeastern side of the Peloponnese, Monemvasia was entirely carved on the back side of a limestone rock during the Middle Ages. The great rock, often called the “Gibraltar of Greece,” is intentionally not visible from the mainland in order to shelter it from attacks. Because the only way to reach Monemvasia was by boat, its name, meaning “single passage,” is appropriate. Today, the castle is connected to the mainland, just opposite the rock. The Archaeological Museum, housed in a Muslim mosque opposite the Church of Elkomenos Christos, sits inside the castle walls. Besides the panoramic views that the castle affords, Monemvasia offers visitors the twelfth-century Byzantine Church of Hagia Sofia, located on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea.