Sparta, the most imposing and legendary historical urban core of the southern Peloponnese, is the vibrant capital of the Municipality of Sparta and the entire Laconia, built on the verdant banks of the Evrotas River at an altitude of 210 meters, which rightfully holds global fame due to its unique military history, the strict "laconic" education and the incomparable heroism of its citizens in antiquity. A landmark of the region is the legendary Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, where King Leonidas and the 300 elite Spartans sacrificed themselves for the freedom of Greece, a fact that sealed the city's identity as an eternal symbol of valor and self-sacrifice. Today, Sparta, reborn since 1834 by decree of King Otto on the traces of the ancient city, enchants the visitor with its huge central square dominated by the imposing neoclassical City Hall, the large tree-lined avenues with palm trees, the well-preserved mansions and the famous Museum of the Olive and Greek Oil. With its trademark, the magnificent bronze Statue of Leonidas in front of the Municipal Stadium, the remains of the Ancient Acropolis with the Roman Theater and its immediate proximity to the imposing Taygetos and the Castle City of Mystras, it constitutes a top base for lovers of archaeology, cultural tourism and mountain tours.
