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MONENVASSIA

PELOPONNESUS, GREECE

Image Number 364

Monemvasia is a fortress town located on a tiny island off the east coast of the Peloponnese. The island is linked to the mainland by a short causeway 200m in length. Its area consists mostly of a large plateau some 100 metres above sea level, up to 300 m wide and 1 km long, the site of a powerful medieval fortress. The town walls and many Byzantine churches remain from the medieval period.  The streets are narrow and fit only for pedestrian and donkey traffic. There are no cars on the island.  In recent years the town has seen a resurgence in importance with increasing numbers of tourists visiting the site and the region. The medieval buildings have been restored, and many of them converted to hotels.  Because of tourist numbers the streets become impassable during “the season”.

TECHNICAL NOTES

The image was taken with a hand-held Phase One 645 Camera at ISO 200. Exposure of 1/500th of a second and aperture F7.1.   45mm Phase One lens with focal plane shutter.   The image was captured on a Phase One IQ180 80 megapixel digital back.