Monemvassia and known by the Franks as Malvassia, is a well-known medieval fortress with an adjacent town, located on a small peninsula off the east coast of the Peloponnese in the Greek prefecture of Laconia. The peninsula is linked to the mainland by a short causeway 2 0 0 meters in length. The ruins include the defensive structures and many Byzantine churches. The town's name derives from two Greek words, mone and emvassia, meaning "single entrance". Many of the streets are narrow and fit only for pedestrians. The bay of Palaia Monemvassia is to be found to the north. Monemvassia's nickname is the Gibraltar of the East or The Rock. The rock is 300 meters tall and 1.8 km long.
The town itself is situated to the south-east of the rock, and overlooks the Palaia Monemvasia bay. A small hamlet with about 10 houses lies to the northwest.

The founding of the town and fortress of Monemvassia most probably occurred in the 6th century A D. The town was founded in 5 8 3 by people seeking refuge from the Slavic and the Avaric invasion of Greece. From the 10 th century A D, the town developed into an important trade and maritime centre. The fortress withstood the Arab and Norman invasions and conquests in 1147. Cornfields that fed up to 30 men were grown inside the fortress.
It was a Byzantine town that existed continuously under the domain of the Empire until 1 4 6 0, when it was sold to the Pope by the Despot of Morea Thomas Palaiologos (in 1 4 6 4 the Pope sold it to Venice because the Papal State was not able to protect the city in the upcoming Turkish-Venetian war.)

The town was liberated from Ottoman rule on August 1, 1821 by Tzannetakis Grigorakis who entered the town with his private army, on his own expenses, during the Greek War of Independence.
In 1 9 7 1, Monemvassia became linked with the rest of the outside world through a bridge on the western side that connects to G R - 8 6.
In more recent history, the town has seen a resurgence in importance with increasing numbers of tourists visiting the site and the region. The medieval buildings have been restored, many of them converted to hotels.