| Byzantino | |
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230 70 Kastro Monemvasias |
find it on the map |
This establishment in the Kastro of Monemvasia may well be a hotel, but it feels nothing like it. It consists of several old, impeccably restored stone houses, and a cute little café where you can have breakfast, drinks and snacks. All houses are genuinely historical, and no two rooms are the same. Some are quite grand (especially the rooms in the most recently restored house, the Hammam), others are more traditional in style. Views vary: some rooms look over the rooftops out to the sea, others have a view of the Kastro. Bathrooms range from tiny and basic to quite large and luxurious. Some rooms have space to sit out, others don’t. But, furnished with antiques and decorated, all rooms are full of character and they ooze charm.
What makes it special to me:
Every room is unique and has a character of its own. I didn't feel at all like I was staying in a hotel, it's more like having a beautiful room in a historical house.
But what you should keep in mind:
The quality of the rooms varies. Some have small bathrooms, some lack views, some could do with a bit of extra upkeep. The qualilty of the service varies a little as well...
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| Accommodation | 20 rooms (Byzantino offers a choice of double, triple and quadruple rooms spread over different historical houses in the Kastro. Each room is different, so be sure to ask some questions when you book - space, view, location, etc!. Note the name of the house and the) |
| Room facilities | En-suite bathroom with shower, bath or Jacuzzi. Please note that the bathrooms vary from (very) small and basic to luxurious; ask when you make your booking! |
2 bar-cafés |
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Byzantino has no restaurant, but it does have a small café where you can order breakfast à la carte. You can also have breakfast brought to your room (from 7h30 onwards). There are several charming small places to eat in the Kastro. |
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Hotel Byzantino is set within the walls of Monemvasia, the spectacularly located medieval settlement built beneath a ruined fortress on a rock in the sea (connected to the mainland via a long and narrow causeway). The reception is on the main cobbled lane close to the central square, and the various houses are scattered over the old town (all within easy walking distance from the reception). |
 find it on the map
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It is an approximately four-hour drive from Athens to Monemvasia (via Korinthos, Tripoli and Sparta). In Sparta follow signs for Gythio and after 24 km (about 18 km before Gythio) you turn left towards Krokees and Skala. You follow the main road from Skala towards Monemvasia (50 km). From the new part of Monemvasia, you cross the causeway to the peninsula and you park your car (as close as you can get to) the entrance gate to the Kastro. From there you have to continue on foot. You will find the reception of Hotel Byzantino in the main alleyway on your left, about 100 m after the gate. If you have a lot of luggage, try and make an overnight bag, so you won’t have to haul heavy suitcases over the uneven cobbled lanes and steps. |
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If you can only visit a few places in
From the mainland, all you see is a large rock, rising steeply from the sea. You can’t make out the remains of the 6th century castle built on top, nor the Byzantine/Venetian fortified city (the kastro, now a small community) that lies beneath it, facing the open sea. Some compare Monemvasia to
The rock of Monemvasia is connected to the mainland by a 300 m causeway. The road continues for another 800 m taking you to the city entrance. After you pass through the narrow arched gate to enter the kastro, you won’t escape the sensation that you are travelling back hundreds of years in time. If as a child you ever lived in a fantasy world of medieval castles, valiant knights and moonlit cobblestone alleys full of mystery, you will feel right at home. The place is captivating. There are no cars or even mopeds. Shops are few and either endearingly old fashioned or arty and tastefully done. A handful of restaurants and cafés, all small and cute, constitute the only nightlife spots on the rock. And, most importantly, there is not a single architectural faux pas. The Kastro is under strict archaeological protection and the only type of construction allowed is restoration. The centuries-old stone houses look impeccable.
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Read here what others said about Byzantino
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We had a very good holiday in Greece and thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Byzantino. We have nothing but praise for your service and for the Byzantino, where we had a really splendid room. I think my only comment would be that perhaps you should alert clients more strongly to the problems of access and luggage at Monemvasia. Because we had to park some way down the road from the town gate we decided to walk into the town first to investigate where our room was, since we did have some idea from the guide books of the difficulties involved with luggage. As a result of this we decided to decant our overnight things into a plastic bag, rather than try to wheel our bags on the uneven, uphill streets of the town, and even more get them up the narrow winding staircase of the house to our room. But we did see other people having great difficulty. I think your instructions should contain a fairly strong warning about this situation. That apart, we have no comments, and are grateful for the smooth running of the reservation. Thank you very much. Michael W.London, UK May 2006 |
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What can I say. There is nothing like it! Nice rooms, aircon when we needed it, friendly and helpful hotel staff. It was a good idea to stay there for two days. What an incredible town and imagine staying right there on the rock. Lovely restaurants. Willen L.Cape Town, South Africa September 2004 |
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Did you stay here?I'd love to hear how you liked it