Geraki
Not far from today’s village of Geraki lie the ruins (approx. 1250 AD) of the old town and fortress on a mountain slope. The castle has a similar history to Mystras and was also built by the Crusaders. It takes about 40 minutes by car from Villa Caretta. You can drive up to approx. 1 km from the museum grounds. The museum grounds are not always open. An information film is shown in the visitor centre there.
If you follow the path through the gate, after 300m you will go uphill to the first buildings. Then you stand at the foot of the old village. There you go uphill over steep steps past many churches with interesting frescoes and half-ruined buildings to the fortress on the top of the mountain. Information boards provide explanations. Some of the frescoes are difficult to see due to the low light. Mobile taken photos show all the details and colours.
There are other churches from the 13th/14th centuries on the mountain ridge about 500m away southwards.
The view is particularly rewarding on a clear day. You have a beautiful view of the Evrotas plain and the Taygetos mountains as far as the Mani peninsula.
