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'''Mystras''' (Greek: Μυστράς, Μυζηθράς , ''Mizithras '' or ''Myzithras '' in the [[w:Chronicle of Morea|chronicle of Morea) ]], also known as ''Mistra, Mystra'' and ''Mistras'' ) is a fortified town on Mt. Taygetos, near ancient Sparta in Morea, within the Prefecture of Laconia in the Region region of the Peloponnesus. It lies approximately eight kilometres west of the modern town of Sparti and is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].

== History of the Site ==The active history of Mystras began in 1249 when Mystras became the seat of the Latin Principality of Achaea that was established after the Latin conquest of [[Constantinople]] in 1204. In 1261, the Byzantines, under Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus, recovered the area of the principality as ransom for Prince William II Villehardouin, the ruler of the principality who had been captured. Mystras was then made the seat of the Despotate of Morea. Mystras prospered under the Byzantine rule, and William II’s II's palace was used by the emperors.

This prosperity was reflected in the churches of the despotate, especially as noted in the frescos frescoes of the Peribleptos Church that date from 1348 to 1380. These are a rare survival surviving example of late Byzantine art. Mystras was also the last center of Byzantine scholarship to survive before the conquest of the despotate by the Ottoman Turks in 1460. The Turks held the area until the start of the Greek War of Independence in 1821, except for the years 1687 to 1715 when the Venetians occupied the Mystras. The city was abandoned in 1832.

{{stub}} == Influential Personalities persons==

Image:CPalaeologos2.JPG|''See Main Article:'' [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]] (1404-1453)

== Monastery of Vrontochi ==The '''Monastery of Vrontochi''' comprises a group of large buildings, some ruins , and an outer wall which surrounds surrounding the entire complex. At the peak of its existance existence it was the wealthiest monastery at Mystra and called '''"Vrontochion'''. " This monastery complex was founded by the cleric '''Pachomius of the Peloponnese''' as a means of his services service to the Emperoremperor. In the course of 20 years, he founded the two large churches (The '''Holy Ss. Theodoroi''' and the '''Panagia Hodegetria''' , or '''Aphentiko'''). {{stub}} == Monastery of Pantanassa ==The [[Monastery]] of Our Lady, Panagia the Pantanassa (''Queen of all'') is a female convent founded in the 15th century (1428 AD) by ''John Phrangopoulos''. It is an excellent example of various styles of church architecture blending together harmoniously and blending into a single architectural unity.

==Monastery of Pantanassa==The Monastery of Our Lady [[Panagia Pantanassa]] (''Queen of all'') is a women's convent founded in the 15th century (1428 AD) by John Phrangopoulos. It is an excellent example of various styles of church architecture blending into an architectural unity. This monastery includes a [[catholicon]] of mixed architecture with exterior porticos porticoes and a bell tower. On the upper floor the wall paintings are dated date from the mid fifteenth -15th century. The paintings of the ground floor are from the eighteenth century.

Image:PantanassaMystra2.JPG|Entrance of Monastery monastery and view of SpartaImage:PantanassaMystra.JPG|Historical icon of [[Panagia Pantanassa]] of Mystra

=== Local tradition ===Tradition has it that ''Theodora Tocco'', the first wife of [[Constantine XI PalaeiologosPalaiologos]], was buried in at the '''Pantanassa'''Monastery. However, the historian ''Phratzis'' records that her mortal remains were buried in 1429 in the '''Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring''' (the '''Agia Sophia''' of Mystra).

== The Churches ==*St. Demetrios, St. Demetrios (the Metropolis) is a three -aisled [[basilica]] with a [[narthex]] and [[bells|bell]] tower. The [[church]] dates from the thirteenth century. On the upper floor of the church a cross-in-square church was added in the early fifteenth century. The interior paintings date from the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.

*[http://www.immspartis.gr/ Holy Metropolis of Monemvasia and Sparti webstitewebsite](Greek)*[http://wwwwhc.idcnetunesco.comorg/en/~dchristolist/mystras.htm 511 Archaeological Site of Mystras](UNESCO World Heritage Centre)*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mystras Wikipedia: Mystras]*[http://www.idcnet.com/~dchristo/mystras.htm Mystras]