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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]].

== World Heritage Classification, UNESCO History==*Date of Inscription - 1989*Reference No. 511*Criteria: (ii), (iii) and (iv)**''(iii)'' - The town active history of Chorá on Mystras began in 1249 when Mystras became the island seat of Pátmos is one the Latin Principality of Achaea that was established after the few settlements Latin conquest of [[Constantinople]] in Greece that have evolved uninterruptedly since the 12th century1204. There are few other places in In 1261, the world where religious ceremonies that date back to Byzantines, under Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus, recovered the early Christian times are still being practised unchanged. <ref> United Nations - Copyright © 1992-2008 UNESCO World Heritage Centre </ref>**''(iv)'' - The Monastery area of Hagios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologian) and principality as ransom for Prince William II Villehardouin, the Cave ruler of the Apocalypse on principality who had been captured. Mystras was then made the island seat of Pátmos, together with the associated medieval settlement Despotate of Chorá, constitute an exceptional example of a traditional Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre of outstanding architectural interest. <ref> United Nations - Copyright © 1992-2008 UNESCO World Heritage Centre </ref>*Documentations**1989, [http://whcMorea.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/511.pdf/ "Advisory Body Evaluation"]**1989, [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcom89.htm#511/ Decision "Report of Mystras prospered under the 13th Session of the Committee"]**2006Byzantine rule, [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/EUR/cycle01/section2/511-summary.pdf/ Periodic Reporting "(Cycle 1) Section and William II Summary"]**2007, [http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/1303/ Decision "31COM 8B's palace was used by the emperors.5"]

This prosperity was reflected in the churches of the despotate, especially as noted in the frescoes of the Peribleptos Church that date from 1348 to 1380. These are a rare 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 Mystras. The city was abandoned in 1832. Of the many churches that had been in use in Mystras, two are occupied.  ==Influential persons==<gallery>Image:CPalaeologos2.JPG|[[Constantine XI Palaiologos]] (1404-1453)</gallery> ==Monastery of Vrontochi==The Monastery of Vrontochi comprises a group of large buildings, some ruins, and an outer wall surrounding the entire complex. At the peak of its 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 service to the emperor. In the course of 20 years, he founded the two large churches (The Holy Ss. Theodoroi and the Panagia Hodegetria, or Aphentiko). == References 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 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. <gallery>Image:PantanassaMystra1.JPG|Holy Monastery of Panagia Pantanassa, MystraImage:PantanassaMystra2.JPG|Entrance of monastery and view of SpartaImage:PantanassaMystra.JPG|Historical icon of [[Panagia Pantanassa]] of Mystra<references/gallery> ===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*St. George/St. Chr. ==External links==*[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]