Palia Monemvasia

A Byzantine town on a slab of rock that an earthquake split from the Peloponnesian coast, reached by a single causeway, which is what its name means: single entrance. The lower town, still inhabited, is a warren of vaulted lanes where cars are impossible; the upper town on the plateau above is ruined and empty except for the church of Agia Sofia on the cliff edge. Byzantines, Franks, Venetians and Ottomans all held it. It gave its name to Malmsey wine.