At the settlement of Kato Gardenitsa at Mesa Mani, is the Byzantine church of Metamorphosis of Sotiros (Transfiguration of Christ).
It dates at the 11th or the beginning of the 14th century and belongs at the type of two-columned, cross-in-square church with a dome. On the east, the central arch has five sides, and the two side ones are three-sided. On the west there is a narthex, while at a later date they added the peculiar propylon and the arched bell tower. The church is built according to the Middle Byzantine cloisonné system of masonry. On its eastern side they have walled-in decorative tiles and in the middle of the central apse there is ceramic decoration. The octagonal dome is of the “Athenian type”, with columns of limestone at the corners.
At the interior of the church there are wall paintings, which were created in three different time periods. The first one in the end of the 13th or the beginning of the 14th century, the second one, at the bema, from the beginning of the 15th century, and the wall paintings of the built screen from the 18th century.
Informations
Additional
Date:
11th or the beginning of the 14th century
Season:
Byzantine
Holy Metropolis:
Mani
Under the Supervision of:
Ephorate of Antiquities of Laconia
Address:
Kato Gardenitsa
