Tag: Frescos

Exochori to Kardamyli part 1:

I am not sure how many parts this series of posts will run to because there were so many fantastic photo opportunities. My father dropped my mother and I at Exochori, the top end of the walk, before himself driving to Kardamyli to walk up to meet us at Petrovouni, from whence we would walk together down into Kardamyli. At the top end of the walk we passed a number of small chapels, and later there were some fine stretches of engineered mule track…

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This is the remains of an old olive press.
This is the remains of an old olive press.

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This aeroplane was one of two flying in formation - could not get both in shot.
This aeroplane was one of two flying in formation – could not get both in shot.
A distant but direct view of Prosilio, which lies between Tseria (above) and Kardamyli (below)
A distant but direct view of Prosilio, which lies between Tseria (above) and Kardamyli (below)

Kastania – Frescos and internal art

Now for my final post about Kastania – though there is still more Greek stuff to come. There were several superb churches in Kastania, the no longer consecrated church of St Peter (Ayios Petros) being the best from an art point of view. They yielded many fine photos…

This modern art - the sort of thing Maurits Escher might have used as a basis for one of his pictures is from the main church in the centre of the village
This modern art – the sort of thing Maurits Escher might have used as a basis for one of his pictures is from the main church in the centre of the village

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Some super frescos in the older churches.
Some super frescos in the older churches.

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This fractal cross was very striking although for me at least equally far from being attractive.
This fractal cross was very striking although for me at least equally far from being attractive.

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Mystra 3: The Metropolis.

Although the museum was closed for lunch, necessitating a return at the end of our circuit round Mystra, the Cathedral provided many excellent photo opportunities. I will be devoting a whole post to the frescos I saw elsewhere, but this place warrants coverage all of its own…

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This double eagle is a Byzantine heraldic device.
This double eagle is a Byzantine heraldic device.

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The inside of the Cupola. In the centre, looking down on his flock from on high is Christ.
The inside of the Cupola. In the centre, looking down on his flock from on high is Christ.

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Byzantine Churches

Venturing into the inner Mani (the town of Areopoli marks the boundary between the inner and outer Mani – think Men of Kent and Kentish Men) we saw some very splendid Byzantine churches (and some truly ghastly modern replicas). In the only one we could get inside there were some interesting frescos, and all featured some fine examples of decorative brickwork using Roman style bricks. I have some very fine photographs of these extraordinary buildings…

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A close up of some decorative brickwork
A close up of some decorative brickwork

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Unfortunately a bag of builders materials prevented me from showing the whole church from this angle - we are in Greece after all!
Unfortunately a bag of builders materials prevented me from showing the whole church from this angle – we are in Greece after all!

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An external fresco of a Madonna and child - this took some serious editing.
An external fresco of a Madonna and child – this took some serious editing.

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Here the original alabaster obviously fell out, and has been replaced by rubble.
Here the original alabaster obviously fell out, and has been replaced by rubble.

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