Did you know that the Saronic Gulf hides its own unknown Mystras?
More specifically on the beautiful island of Aegina which is not far from Attica (just 1.5 hours with the boats leaving the port of Piraeus) we meet a wonderful castle in the style of the famous Mystras of Laconia which will literally enchant you if you decide to visit it.
Do not miss to visit the Holy pilgrimage of Saint Nektarios located at the foot of the hill and is not just one great religious attraction of the island but one of the top pilgrimages in Greece.
A few words about Mystras of the Saronic Gulf (Paleochora)
More than two hundred years passed since the Aeginians they left the security of the fortified hill of Paliachora to go down to the port again, free, free from pirate raids, ready to rebuild the new city of Aegina.
Paliachora, “The Mystras of Aegina”, has stood since then ruined and wrapped in an eerie silence. With its unique beauty, it captivates the hiker who will wander its stone paths and will cross the grassy threshold of its Medieval churches.
Location & Strategic Significance
The hill of Paliachora offered to the Aeginians in addition to protection and a good stay providing drinking water pumped from two natural springs and reservoirs (skewers) as well plenty of foodsince the surrounding area of Meassagros was very fertile.
The location was ideal not only because the hill was fortified by nature, but also because it allowed them to have full supervision of the entire Saronic Gulf. At the same time, the settlement that was created remained invisible in a way, thanks to the technique and materials used in the construction of the houses.
History
Aegina has been a very important economic and commercial power since ancient times. I was in strategic position in the passage of ships to Athens, Central Greece and the Peloponnese, the Aeginians developed the trade from a very early age and managed to become masters of the seas. Aegina thus developed into a large one mall and many at times (Persians, Athenians, Spartans, Macedonians, Parchments, Franks, Saracens, Venetians and Turks) wanted to conquer it. In the medieval years it was subjected to successive raids. Thus, the inhabitants of Aegina were forced to take refuge on the fortified hill of Paliahora to be saved from the rage of conquerors and invaders.
According to reports by N. Moutsopoulos, it is considered almost certain that The transfer of the capital of Aegina to the hill of Paliachora took place in the 9th AD. century, after a raid by Saracens who destroyed Ligourio and Attica. There the Aeginians created a new city on the foundations of the old one, building houses, churches, streets and later a Castle.
Yet plagued by the constant pirate raids from the 9th to the 12th century AD, Aegina gradually became a refuge for pirates and many of the Aeginians were forced to survive either to coexist with the pirates or to leave the island permanently.
Structural, Architectural, Fortification Elements
Tradition wants them churches of Paliachora to be 365, as many as the days of the year. Historical studies, however, indicate that there were actually around 50. Today we can visit the 33 that still stand the test of time.
The temples date from the beginning of the 12th to the 18th century AD. Most of them are single-chamber or single-chamber as they are called, with a semi-cylindrical dome and relief arches on their side sides.
Some of the temples are two-aisled or twin or dual-existent. This means that next to a temple a second one was built to serve the catholics as well. So we have five two-aisled royal temples.
Some of the temples have above the entrance door of the bell tower and it is questionable how he was rescued in a Turkish-occupied area. Characteristic are the beautifully carved stone lintels with crosses, geometric patterns and rosettes.
Today, already some of the temples parts of their hagiographies have been renovated and restoredsuch as Agios Georgios the Catholicos, the Diocese, the cell of Agios Dionysios, the katholikon of the monastery of Agia Kyriaki and Zoodochou Pigi, Agios Stefanos and the Holy Cross.
During the destruction of the city by Barbarossa in 1537the castle had suffered a lot of damage, but in 1654 it seems that it had been repaired, because Morosini was forced to besiege Paliachora, after the fall of which he completely destroyed the castle walls
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