The traditional village of Velies belongs to the municipality of Monemvasia and consists of two parts, Prophet Elias and Saints Saranda.
It is built at an altitude of 160 metres and has about 500 permanent residents. On the outskirts of the village, visitors can see the old fountain with the century-old plane tree, while there are several remarkable churches. Among them, the church of Agios Georgios (with frescoes of the 13th century), the church of Panagia (where ancient findings such as coins of Classical, Hellenistic and Roman times have come to light ), as well as the parish church of Profitis Elias, stand out. It is a double temple, where the old and the new are next to each other. The older one is single roomed with an arched roof temple.
In Velies, you can also find the restored mansion of poet Giannis Ritsos, which today operates as a guest house. There is a visitable museum space on the villa's ground floor with the old olive press standing out. Also, in the village, you can find the Folklore Museum with objects of agriculture and household use, old photographs, textiles, local costumes etc.
The village is also home to the "Monemvasia Winery", founded in 1997 and produces excellent wine for all tastes. According to tradition, the sun-dried wine (with the colour of honey) of the region could be found, for five whole centuries, at the most important tables of Europe, Russia and the East. Malvasia wine (Malvasia) - the Frankish name of Monemvasia, began to be produced before the 13th century in Byzantine Monemvasia. After the occupation of Monemvasia by the Turks in the 16th century, the vineyards were uprooted, and production was transferred to Crete, where it was maintained until 1800. Some vines reached the West under other names, such as Malvoisie and Malmsey. "Drown me in a barrel of Malvasia wine," the Duke of Clarence asked the King of England when he was called to choose his death, according to Shakespeare in "Richard III."
