Lira belongs to the municipality of Monemvasia and is 112 kilometres southeast of Sparta. It has about 100 permanent residents. It is a village with a long history, and by 1770 it was the largest village in the area. The history of the village begins in the 7th century. In 1461, Lira was occupied by the Turks. In 1770, with the Orlov Revolt, the village was abandoned by the inhabitants, who returned ten years later.
Here, visitors can wander the narrow alleys between the old mansions and admire the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine temples. The main churches are the double basilica of the Assumption and the church dedicated to the Synagogue of John the Baptist. This church was built before 1800. The icon of the Virgin Mary breastfeeding with the inscription "Milk Feeding IC-XC", which is celebrated on January 7th, is typical. At the village's hilltop, the visitor can see the temple of Prophet Elias, while at a lower point, there is the small church of All Saints. Finally, east of the village, on the road to Monemvasia, you can find the chapel of St. Andrew with significant frescoes, which have been restored.
