The Fascinating Castles of Greece
Castles are huge protective buildings that are magnificent to look at and used to protect the people who lived there – usually kings or important public figures. They are usually surrounded by beautiful countryside.
The Fascinating Cast
The Fascinating Castles of Greece
Castles are huge protective buildings that are magnificent to look at and used to protect the people who lived there – usually kings or important public figures. They are usually surrounded by beautiful countryside.
The Fascinating Castles of Greece
There are about 800 castles scattered around Greece and some of them are regarded as the best-preserved buildings of Europe, and we’re going to take a look at some of them:
Castle of Epirus
Castle of Parga
Situated on top of a hill with views of the town below, the castle of Parga was used to protect the town from the mainland and the sea. Toward the end of the 16th-century, it underwent a major reconstruction.
The castle had 8 towers outside, and inside the space of the citadel there were 400 houses. The castle is an example of Venetian architecture, and inside there is a café and gift shop.
This castle is found in the southeastern part of the city on lake Pamvotis. The structure is dominated by 2 citadels. The northeastern citadel is surrounded by a wall that dates to the Byzantine period.
The citadel is made up of a palace as well as a church dedicated to Saint John. The castle serves as a cultural and exhibition space today. Check out this post: Ioannina: A Nature Lovers Dream World.
Castle of Central Macedonia
Platamonas Castle – Pieria
The Platamonas Castle, found on a rocky hill and with splendid views of the shores of Platamonas, is a 10th century Byzantine-built structure. It was built between 1204 and 1222 in northern Greece and southeast of Mount Olympus. The tower is a medieval fortress.
You can’t miss the castle from the old National Road and it is regarded as a trademark of the Prefecture of Pieria and just a short distance from the town of Platamonas.
Castles of East Macedonia
Castle of Kavala
This impressive fortress is the crown jewel of the old city of Kavala. It was built in the early 15th century on the remains of the Byzantine Acropolis of Christoupolis, which is the former name of Kavala. Today visitors can admire the spectacular view of the city from its circular tower which was used for defence. The fortress occasionally is used to host cultural events. It is one of the top visited monuments of Kavala.
Castle of West Greece
Nafpaktos Castle is one of the beautiful, well-maintained castles of Greece overlooking the bay of Patras. The castle had 5 defensive walls, 2 of which go down to the sea.
Centuries ago the entrance to the Gulf of Nafpaktos was a battleground of an important naval battle – the battle of Lepanto in 1571. After the end of the Revolution War, not just the castle but also the town became part of the Greek state and today it is a well-visited archaeological site.
Castles of Peloponnese
Also referred to as Acrocorinth, this is a monolithic rock that towers over the ancient city of Corinth in Greece. Acrocorinth is considered one of the most important medieval castle sites of Greece. In 1965-66 the bridge over the dry moat and the guardhouse at the entrance were restored.
Venetian Castle of Methoni
This beautiful castle on a rock right on the sea is a fortified city that was built by the Venetians in 1209 A.D. The castle comes complete with an artificial moat. During the Byzantine years, it was a harbor and used as a base to attack the vandals of North Africa.
Part of the castle comprises the spectacular sea gate, 2 square towers of 16 meters that are linked with a platform crowned with bastions and the ruins of a cemetery for British prisoners from the Second World War.
The castles of Greece are often found on hills and this castle is found just 4 km from Karystos, with the first fort being found on a hill known as Montofoli and built by the Byzantines in 1030. The castle, perched on rocks, overlooks the bay of Karystos and occupies the foothills of Mt Ochi.
At the foot of Mount Ochi lies the emblematic Castello Rosso. This castle was built in 1030 AC as a small fort and later transformed into a castle. Its name, related to the red color of the stones used for its construction means Red Castle. Today the castle is a major attraction.
Frankish Villehardouin castle — Kalamata
The castle was built by the House of Villehardouin in 1210 and always an epicenter of attention with its 2 fortifications and an inner fortress. Inside the castle is a theatre that hosts cultural events.
Old Navarino Castle
This old medieval castle also has some amazing views and hikes. The coastal town of Pylos is where you will find the ruins of the 13th century Old Navarino Castle.
It was built by the Franks and has endured many attacks before being taken by the Venetians in the 15th century. Unfortunately once Pylos Castle was built nearby, the old Navarino castle fell to ruin.
Nafplio Castle – Bourtzi and Palamidi
Nafplio is the main port of the eastern Peloponnese and