May 3 - Mystras

We chose the best time to visit this site.  The flowers are blooming and most tourists haven't arrived yet.  The fortress at the top of the hill was built by Prince William II Villehardouin.  He was captured in 1259 by the Byzantines - and that is the influence you see in the two churches we visited.

As the area became more populated with more homes - more walls were built to enclose them.

 A view down into the valley from Mystras

We saw a lot of these plants - our guide did not know what they were.

The first church we saw.  We saw a lot of the Byzantine figures with their eyes poked out.  Later conquerors thought they were evil.

It also had a cave - a room in the rocks at the back of the church.

Then on to the next attraction.  The girls had amazing stamina for all the walking we did.

The next church is occasionally used for services.  There were many pots with roses scattered around.

Once again, the two headed eagle.

And a beautiful view of the valley - Sparta is somewhere to the right.