Overlooking the Myrtoan Sea, the Greek fortress of Monemvasia is perched on a giant rock joined to Peloponnese by a restored causeway. The name Monemvasia means “single entrance” in Greek.

Cafés, tavernas, guesthouses, and tourist shops line the narrow, cobblestoned main lane of the lower medieval village which is fit only for pedestrian and donkey traffic. Merchants and artisans have kept the town viable for centuries. Remarkably, Monemvasia has never ceased to be inhabited and is home to a small number of families.

The upper town atop the massive rock has long been abandoned. An uphill path leads to the ruins of once-majestic buildings and Agia Sofia, an intact Byzantine church.

Inspired by the WordPress One-Word Prompt Challenge: Paint, I transformed a few of my favorite photos of the medieval village into watercolor images via the Waterlouge app.

The Byzantine church and age-old stone buildings in the lower village look mystical when portrayed in a watercolor image. The heavy textures of the exterior stonework of the buildings are softened by the translucent colors and blurred features of the painted scenes.

 καλό ταξίδι – Happy travels!