Archaeological Site and Museum of Mystras
The medieval castle town of Mystras, a World Heritage Site, with the site's museum on the relations between Byzantium and the West.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Mystras began as a castle built by the Frankish prince William II of Villehardouin on the summit of a fortified hill. In 1262 the castle was handed over to the Byzantines, and the settlement enjoyed two hundred years of prosperity, with walls on two levels. In 1460 Mystras passed to the Ottomans and became an important centre for the production and trade of silk. The last residents left in 1953, and in 1989 the site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Mystras Museum is housed in the metropolitan complex. The first, informal museum was set up in the eastern wing at the end of the 19th century by the French Byzantinist Gabriel Millet, with sculptures from the churches of Mystras. The museum was officially founded in 1952 under the ephor of antiquities Nikolaos Drandakis, and the collection was moved to the western wing. On the upper floor, objects of minor arts and portable icons were displayed, while on the ground floor sculptures and Byzantine objects from the Museum of Sparta were exhibited.
Today the museum's exhibition is dedicated to the relations between Byzantium and the West. Using the late Byzantine urban centre of Mystras as an example, and a selection of exhibits, it presents the interactions that shaped the political and social life, the spirituality and the art of the Palaiologan era.
Highlights
- The Byzantine castle town of Mystras, a World Heritage Site
- Exhibition on the relations between Byzantium and the West in the Palaiologan era
- Byzantine sculptures and portable icons
- The Palace and the Byzantine monuments of the site
Permanent exhibition
- Μόνιμη έκθεση: Βυζάντιο και Δύση – Selected exhibits illustrate, using Mystras as an example, the relations and interactions between Byzantium and the West in the Palaiologan era.
- Founded
- 1952
- Operated by
- Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Λακωνίας
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €20 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €10Citizens of the European Union over 65 years of age from 1 October to 31 May, upon presentation of an identity card or passport; accompanying parents and teachers on school educational visits, and other categories specified by the Ministry of Culture. |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.
The ticket is valid for the archaeological site and the museum of Mystras. Free admission and reduced tickets are available to specific categories of visitors, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
By intercity bus (KTEL) from Sparta; the bus terminus is near the Kato Pyli car park, 5 minutes on foot from the entrance to the site.
By car
Parking available
On foot: 20 minutes from the village of New Mystras. By car: 8 minutes from Sparta.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
On site there are a café, a shop, toilets, WiFi and a car park.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum is located within the archaeological site of Mystras and offers educational programmes. |
