Now declared a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO, this uncannily well-preserved site offers an almost unmediated glimpse into the shape and organisation of an authentic mediaeval settlement.
A seat of Byzantine administration and one of the last bastions to fall (1446) before the entire empire was conquered by the Ottomans with the capture of Constantinople, Mystras was also an impressive hub of literary and artistic activity. Reading one of the many books recounting its rise and fall may prove informative, though it cannot compare to a visit: the fortification, the palaces, the churches, the monasteries, and the fountains combine with the verdant landscapes of Taygetus to make an ideal setting for your experience in the Peloponnese.