The world-renowned fortress town of Peloponnese is located 6 Km north-east of Sparta and is 92 Km from Byzantino Boutique Hotel. It was founded after the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204, when the Peloponnese was granted to the Frank family of the Villehardouines and the Principality of Achaea was founded. In 1249, William II of Villehardouine built a castle at the top of the hill named Mystras or Myzithras. This castle was meant to become one of the most significant fortress cities in Peloponnese and one of the greatest post-Byzantine cities. In 1289 the byzantine – once again- administrative services were transferred from Monemvasia to Mystras and in 1349 Mystras became the capital of the semi-autonomous Despotate of the Morea. The last Byzantine emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, was despot at Mystras before he came to the throne. In 1460, Mystras was surrendered to the Ottoman Turks, declined and was destroyed in 1770 by Turks and Albanians during the Orlov Revolt. In 1989 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
