Description
Book SynopsisMonemvasia has a powerful visual and emotive separation from the world. The ‘Castro’ or fortress is set on a rock in the southern Peloponnese of the Aegean Sea, joined by a causeway to the Greek mainland. Inhabitants are further isolated behind the fortified walls, with only one gateway into the Castro. From the 6th century AD it has played a significant role in Byzantine and Mediterranean history. The unique environment determined how the community evolved through periods of social change.
The photographic collection spans over a century, from 1890 until the present day, and alongside historic and contemporary quotations, provides a graphic description of Monemvasian society throughout its recent history. It is an illustration of how a community, living in unique, physical and historical surroundings, may flourish and recreate within itself a strong bond of solidarity, pride and continuity. This interaction determines the pattern of the book. It is a journey, on a physical and emotional level, through Monemvasia. The chapters move through the public spaces and activities into the private experiences of family life.
Trade Review"This wonderful book of photographs, compiled by Ann Eldridge… captures the magic that is Monemvasia. It’s a handsome and hefty book that would grace any coffee-table, and be the ideal gift for anyone interested in Greece, in history, in photography… With several essays about Monemvasia, as well as the remarkable photos, this beautiful book should definitely be on the shopping list for anyone with any remote interested in Greece. And if you haven’t yet been to Monemvasia, it will tempt you to go" Greece Travel Secrets
