'''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]].

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.

St==Influential persons==<gallery>Image:CPalaeologos2. Demetrios (the Metropolis) is a three aisled JPG|[[basilicaConstantine XI Palaiologos]] with a [[narthex]] and [[bell]] tower. The [[church]] dates from the thirteenth century. On the upper floor of the church a cross(1404-in-square church was added in the early fifteenth century. The interior paintings date from the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.1453)</gallery>

==Monastery of Vrontochi==The [[Monastery]] of Our Lady Pantanassa (Queen Vrontochi comprises a group of all)large buildings, for womensome ruins, includes a [[catholicon]] and an outer wall surrounding the entire complex. At the peak of mixed architecture with exterior porticos its existence it was the wealthiest monastery at Mystra and a bell towercalled "Vrontochion. On " This monastery complex was founded by the upper floor cleric Pachomius of the wall paintings are dated from Peloponnese as a service to the mid fifteenth centuryemperor. The paintings In the course of 20 years, he founded the ground floor are from two large churches (The Holy Ss. Theodoroi and the eighteenth centuryPanagia Hodegetria, or Aphentiko).

== Panagia Chrysafitissa Monastery of Pantanassa==The Monastery of Our Lady [[Image:Panag_ChrysafitissaPanagia 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.jpg|thumb|left|This monastery includes a [[Panagia Chrysafitissa|Panagia Chrysafitissa of Mystra]]catholicon]]of mixed architecture with exterior porticoes and a bell tower. On the upper floor the wall paintings date from the mid-15th century. The paintings of the ground floor are from the eighteenth century.

== World Heritage Classification, UNESCO ==*Date of Inscription - 1989*Reference No. 511*Criteria: (ii), (iii) and (iv)::''Mystras, the 'wonder of the Morea', was built as an amphitheatre around the fortress erected in 1249 by the prince of Achaia, William of Villehardouin. Reconquered by the Byzantines, then occupied by the Turks and the Venetians, the city was abandoned in 1832, leaving only the breathtaking medieval ruins, standing in a beautiful landscape.''<ref> United Nations - Copyright © 1992-2008 UNESCO World Heritage Centre </refgallery>*Documentations**1989, [httpImage://whcPantanassaMystra1.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/511.pdf/ "Advisory Body Evaluation"]JPG|Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa, Mystra**1989, [httpImage://whc.unescoPantanassaMystra2.org/archive/repcom89.htm#511/ Decision "Report JPG|Entrance of the 13th Session monastery and view of the Committee"]Sparta**2006, [httpImage://whcPantanassaMystra.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/EUR/cycle01/section2/511-summary.pdf/ Periodic Reporting "(Cycle 1) Section II Summary"JPG|Historical icon of [[Panagia Pantanassa]]of Mystra**2007, [http:<//whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1303/ Decision "31COM 8B.5"]gallery>

== References =Local tradition===Tradition has it that Theodora Tocco, the first wife of [[Constantine XI Palaiologos]], was buried 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). ==Churches==*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.*Evangelistria*Agia Sophia*Peribleptos<references*St. George/>St. Chr.

*[http://www.immspartis.gr/ Holy Metropolis of Monemvasia and Sparti website] (Greek)*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/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]