Museums - Collections

• The Archaeological Museum of Sparta (27310 28575)

The Museum of the Olive and the Greek Olive Oil

(27310 89315). The Museum of Olive Tree and Greek Olive Oil is a well organized multiplex where the visitor can see the process of oil production, starting from ancient technology until the Byzantine times and early industrial period. Among the exhibits there are fossilized leaves of olive trees, over 50.000 years of age, from Santorin, also scripts written in Grammiki B’ [Linear B’] and many works of art. The museum has been given an award by the Greek Institute of Architecture as one of the best and most sound buildings in the last five years in Greece. [Open every day – except Tuesday – from 10am to 6 pm].

•  Coumantaros Art Gallery (27310 81557)
• The Public Central Library – The Nicephoros Vrettakos Archive (27310 21180)
• Sparta Museum of Ecclesiastical Art (27310 26580)
• Museum of Mystras (27310 83377)
• Botanical and Geological Museum of Mt Taygetos (27310 81866)
• The Museum of Natural History (27310 57850)
• The Arcaeological Collection of Monemvasia (27320 61403)
• The Richia Museum of Folklore (27320 51121)
• Pikoulakis Tower Museum (27330 29531)
• Museum of Neolithic Civilisation at Diros (27330 52233)
• Museum of Mystras (27310 83377)

Castles 

• The Castle of Mystras
• The Castle of Monemvasia

The Castle of Geraki  Legends and traditions have left their trail creating an ambience in the area Geronthri, the ancient name for Geraki. The ruins of the medieval castle and of the archaic settlement both function as a link between the present and the glorious past. After the fall of Constantinople in the hands of the crusaders, 1204 AD, Geraki was one of the twelve baronies and local dominions of the Peloponnese. It is here that in 1209, the French baron Guy de Nivelet built the Castle, still preserved to date. 50 years later following the battle of Pelagonia, Geraki with its Castle was again passed on to the hands of the eastern empire of Byzantium and enjoyed a social recovery and a religious bloom.There are around thirty temples dating back to that period, ten of which are within the medieval settlement of the Castle. The most noteworthy of those are: Saint Sozon and Saint Athanasius, the cross-roofed church of Saint Paraskevi with 13^th century frescos in three levels, the monocline church of Zoodochos Pigi [“Life-giving Spring”] in a dome-shaped Basilica with frescos from 1431 under the Castle, and the cross-roofed church of Taxiarchs, in the second peak south of the Castle, where among others you can see a marvelous fresco of the fall of Jericho. 

• The Castle of Loganikos
• The Castle of Vordonia
• The Castle of Passavas
• The Castle of Bardounia
• The Castle of Kelefa
• The Castle of Mainis-Tigani
• The Achilleio Castle 
• Palaeokastro Mesochorio
• Palaeokastro Assopos

• Holy Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi at Parnonas (27310 73225)
• Holy Monastery of Agioi Tessarakonta The Great Martyrs (27310 26780)
• Holy Monastery of Kastri (27310 57238)
• Holy Monastery of Zerbitsa (27310 35091)
• Holy Monastery of Golas (27310 75298)
• Holy Monastery of the Virgin Faneromeni of Dryalos (27310 52231)
• Holy Monastery of the Virgin Giatrissa (27310 94286)
• The Old Monastery at Vrontamas 
• Holy Monastery of the Annunciation Virgin and Agios Georgios of Gerakas (27320 23980)

Theaters

Sainopouleian Amphitheatre, Magoula (27310 82470, -28878)

The Saenopoulio Amphitheatre, in Magoula, west of Sparta, hosts chief theatrical performances in the summer, ranging from ancient theatre to contemporary artists in concerts. It has been qualified as the most beautiful modern theatre in Greece.

• Epidavreian Amphitheatre, Vlachioti
  With Evrotas’ river fertile valley at its feet, Taygetos and Parnonas mountain ranges at its back and the Laconia bay in the background, this terrific amphitheatre, carved in the hill of Prophet Elias in Vlachioti, gives its summer visitor full satisfaction attending classical ancient tragedies, the works of the great tragedians, as well as other music events and concerts of famous composers of Greek music. On the grounds of this same hill you will find dining facilities and an exemplary 5x5 court. For more information about the programme of events contact Elos Municipality, tel. 27350 42211.
  
  
   

Literature

Giannis Ritsos
The great poet from Monemvasia, Giannis Ritsos, (1909-1990), has made his mark in Greece’s poetry with poetry works such as “Tractor” (1934), “Pyramids” (1935), “Epitaph” (1936) and “My sister’s song” (1937). He brought out over one hundred poetry collections and compositions, nine novels, four theatrical plays and studies. He was awarded the A’ State Poetry Award in 1956 for his “Moonlight Sonnet” while in 1968 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize. In 1975 he was proclaimed Honorary Professor of the University of Salonika and in 1977 he was awarded the Lenin Peace Award.

Nikiphoros Vrettakos
Krokees of Laconia boasts the origins of Nikiphoros Vrettakos (1912-1991), one of the most distinguished Greek poets, whose works have been translated in many languages. His work stands out for his humanitarianism, for his strong ties with his native land and folk tradition. Among his works are the well known “Mass at the Foot of Acropolis”, “The Culmination of Fire” (1940) “Taygetos and the silence” (1949), “Turbid rivers” (1950), “Ploumitsa” (1951), “Prometheus” (1979). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in poetry, he was twice awarded the first State Award (1940 και 1956), the National Resistance Award (1945), the Athens Academy Award (1976), the Ouranis Award and many more. In 1987 he was elected a member of Athens Academy. His archive is preserved in the Central Public Library in Sparta.

Education

Department of Sports Organization and Management, University of Peloponnese. Lyssandrou 3, 23100, Sparta, tel.030731089658, E-mail tmara@uop.gr 

• Department of Nursing, University of Peloponnese – Τηλ. 27310 89720 
   
• Department of Technology of Informatics & Telecommunications - Branch of the Technological Institute of Kalamata. 7 Kilkis Str.  23100  Sparta, 27310-82240