Sparta, the capital of Lakonia, was the ruling area of ancient Greece. It was founded by Dorians who came in Lakonia calling themselves descendants of Hercules. The town was built at the slopes of river Evrotas. Until the times of the Macedonian rule, it was consisted of several villages. There are several traditions about the derivation of name Sparta. The most ancient says that the town was named after Evrotas’ daughter, Sparta or by the mythic king Spartonas. Another theory says that “sparta land” means fertile ground. A more recent one says that it was named Sparta by the sporadic settlements it was consisted of.

The famous ancient Sparta started to decline after its capture by Romans in 146 BC. During the Byzantine period the residents lived around Mystras, in a small village called Lacedemonia. In October 20th 1834 Otto King signs a decree for the foundation of Sparta town. The new town will be built according to a plan designed by the architect Fr. Stauffert. Although the town was not built according to the plan, it still is one of the most beautiful towns in Greece. The only mistake made was that the new town was built on the remains of the ancient one.