At the start of our hike, we approach an 800-year-old front gate and embark on a cobblestone path of smooth and jagged rocks. We share the perspective of Greek soldiers who once trudged here centuries ago, and from this view, we strain our necks and squint our eyes to admire the intimidating acropolis. This writer imagined it must have been arduous for soldiers to amble these mountains in their armor and traditional sandals!
MYSTRA Transports Hikers to a Secluded, Archaeological Wonder
Along our journey to the acropolis, we encounter ruins and remains of stone buildings, where trees and vines sprout through the windows and attempt to absorb such an old city. In one structure, a door reveals an opening to the forest, and trees grow rampant as they shed their green leaves. As we crawl, traipse, and climb over rocks, we realize the walls of these structures are impervious to both invasions and nature.
The cobblestone trail fades as we reach a path of solid dirt, and if we look down, we can see the lower city of Mystra – the gate we entered, the stone steps we climbed, and the solid remains we explored. The city of Sparta is richer now as every tree grows around sporadically spaced homes. Opposite to us are mountains on the other side of the Peloponnese, layering themselves in various shades of blue.
