Sparta, the capital of Laconia, a historic city

Situated at the shores of Evrotas river and under the watchful eye of Taygetos mountain, Sparta is spread across the valley of the mythical river. Sparta is a simple, uncomplicated and always hospitable place, ready to offer its services to the visitors all throughout the year, since the sights around Sparta, as well as all over the prefecture of Lakonia are so many and of such a kind that they attract the interest of tourists all year through. The capital of the prefecture of Lakonia, located 220 km from Athens, has 14000 inhabitants and a modern and efficient town planning since it was built in the beginning of the modern Greek state according to the 1834 official town plan. Sparta has the appropriate infrastructure to ensure an enjoyable stay and provide for the organization of tours around the prefecture, since it constitutes not only the administrative but also the transportation center of the prefecture. The Mycenaean vaulted tomb of Vafio, constructed from small, carved stones, has been the subject of many archaeological studies and has become worldwide known because of the two golden cups found inside the tomb. These cups, bearing depictions of wild bull hunting, can be seen at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, and even though the location of the palace of Mycenaean Sparta has not been identified, they constitute evidence of the prosperity and development of the region much earlier than 1000 B.C. The regions significance has been attested also by the discovery of the Mycenaean tombs in the location "Spilakia".

One of the most important archaeological discoveries in Greece, located in Vafio close to Amycles. The archaeological excavations brought to light a vaulted tomb containing two golden cups. These findings underline the significance of the region during the post-Hellenic and Mycenaean period. The Archaeological Museum of Sparta is the first Greek Museum that was built in a provincial town (1874-76) and it was designed by the Greek architect G. Katsaros. It consists of six rooms and a hall. The exhibits include findings from the temple of Artemis Orthia (clay labeled columns commemorating the winners of contests dedicated to goddess Artemis) and the temple of Athena Chalkioikos (bronze idols, pottery, etc), findings from the excavations in Amycles, as well as a small part of the mosaic floors that have been revealed during the excavations around the town of Sparta and used to decorate the wealthy family houses of the Hellenistic and Roman period. There are also two rooms with sculptures, including the statue which is known as Leonidas, and a room with findings from the prehistoric excavations in Pellana and Amycles. The Ancient Theater of Sparta is located on the southwestern slope of the Spartan Acropolis just below the temple of Athena. It has a southern orientation, which is a quite common characteristic of the ancient theaters, but because of the natural relief, it leans slightly towards the south. It is one of the biggest ancient theaters, with an external diameter of 140 m. and natural ground, but through the works for the walls, the size of the available space was almost tripled. The current form of the theater dates back to the Roman period and more specifically to its latest reconstruction during the era of emperor Theodosios.