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Right at the entrance of Kos Town's harbor stands the Castle of the Knights of St. John, also known as Neratzia Castle—an imposing coastal fortress that immediately transports visitors to the age of crusaders. Built and expanded from the 14th to 16th centuries by the Knights Hospitaller (the same Order that built the Palace in Rhodes), this castle served as a critical fortress in their defensive network across the Dodecanese islands. The Knights recognized Kos's strategic position just off the coast of Asia Minor; by fortifying Kos Town's peninsula, they could help control naval passage toward the Holy Land and protect their domain. The result is a sophisticated double-walled fortress: an inner keep and an outer bailey separated by a moat (now a pleasant pathway lined with palm trees). As visitors approach via the modern bridge, they notice the castle's walls constructed from a combination of local stone and ancient blocks—the Knights famously recycled materials from nearby ruins of the Asklepion and other ancient sites, so Greek and Roman fragments (columns, friezes) can be seen embedded within the fortress walls. The name Neratzia itself derives from the sour orange trees that once grew around (and some still do). With its sturdy bastions and massive gate flanked by round towers, Neratzia Castle epitomizes the quintessential medieval castle by the sea. Above the main gate, visitors can spot carved heraldic crests of Grand Masters and Latin inscriptions marking construction phases, such as the arms of Grand Masters d'Aubusson and del Carretto who oversaw major works in the late 1400s.
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On the remote Dodecanese island of Astypalaia, the whitewashed houses of Chora climb a steep hill and culminate in a striking crown of dark stone—this is the Querini Castle, a Venetian fortress dramatically perched above the Aegean Sea. Often described as a bridge between the Cyclades and Dodecanese, Astypalaia's castle likewise blends architectural elements from both island groups. The Venetian Querini family, who ruled the island from the early 1200s, rebuilt this strategic fortress around 1413 specifically to protect against rampant piracy. They incorporated remnants of an ancient acropolis on the summit, utilizing local bluish-black volcanic stone that creates a stark visual contrast with the brilliant white houses below. This inverts the typical fortress arrangement, as many of the castle's outer walls are actually the backs of houses (known as "xokastra"—auxiliary dwellings that formed an additional defensive ring). Exploring the castle today, visitors wander through the ruins of thick-walled two-story houses that once sheltered Astypalaia's entire population during pirate-infested centuries. Two pristine white churches with vibrant blue domes stand out amid the weathered stone—the church of Panagia tou Kastrou (1853) near the entrance and Agios Georgios (1790) further inside. Both remain active for religious celebrations, adding picturesque touches to the ancient fortification. The journey to Querini Castle is an adventure in itself, starting at the base of Chora and winding upward through a maze of alleys and white staircases adorned with bougainvillea until reaching the castle gate, a low vaulted passageway on the southwest side.
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In the heart of Naxos Town (Chora) rises the Kastro, a medieval castle-quarter that has been continuously inhabited since its foundation by a Venetian duke in the 13th century. Unlike a conventional castle building, Naxos Kastro is a complete fortified old town perched atop a hill, beautifully integrated into the Cycladic landscape of whitewashed houses and churches. When Marco Sanudo, a relative of Venice's doge, conquered Naxos in 1207 and established the Duchy of the Aegean, he made this castle his administrative seat. He and his fellow nobles constructed grand mansions along the hilltop and encircled them with thick stone walls to protect against pirates and rival powers. Remarkably, over 800 years later, the same medieval layout remains perfectly intact: narrow winding alleys, hidden passageways, and elegant mansions—some still occupied by descendants of Venetian families. Entering through the Kastro's main gate (Trani Porta), visitors step onto centuries-old cobblestones and immediately notice the tranquil atmosphere compared to the bustling modern town below. This is a living heritage site where locals continue daily life in homes converted from old palaces, students attend school in the former Jesuit commercial building, and the Catholic cathedral still holds services as it has since the 1200s. Several small museums within the Kastro offer cultural insights: the Archaeological Museum housed in the former Venetian Commercial School features artifacts from Naxos' long history, while the privately owned Della Rocca-Barozzi Venetian Museum, a converted aristocratic mansion, provides a glimpse of past noble life with its period furnishings.
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At the northwestern tip of Santorini's famous cliffside village of Oia stands the evocative ruin known as Oia Castle or the Castle of Agios Nikolaos. Though now reduced to crumbling walls and a few staircases, this 15th-century Venetian fortification once served as one of five defensive settlements constructed to protect the island from pirate raids. Oia's castle commanded the strategic caldera entrance and provided a secure refuge for locals during attacks. First documented in records from 1480, the fortress withstood numerous pirate incursions until the devastating earthquake of 1956 sent much of it tumbling into the sea along with portions of Oia village. What remains today is a modest fragment of a bastion perched on a rocky promontory—yet this remnant has become one of Santorini's most celebrated sites. Each evening, crowds gather on and around the old castle ruin, finding space on every available ledge and step, to witness the sun sink into the Aegean in a spectacular display of color. The silhouette of Oia's white houses and blue domes below, framed against the castle's weathered stones, creates the quintessential Santorini postcard image that has captivated travelers worldwide. By day, the castle offers a quieter but equally rewarding experience, with panoramic views of the caldera, the village cascading down the cliff, and the small harbor of Ammoudi directly below. Looking out from this vantage point, it's easy to understand why the Venetians selected this location: it provided unparalleled surveillance of maritime traffic around Santorini.
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In the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Elounda in eastern Crete lies Spinalonga, a small island with an outsized historical significance. This tiny islet is completely encircled by imposing fortress walls—the Venetians methodically fortified Spinalonga in 1578-1579 as part of their strategy to defend Crete's coastline. With advanced bastions and a strategic position controlling Elounda's natural harbor, Spinalonga became a crucial Venetian outpost. Remarkably, even after the Ottomans conquered the rest of Crete in 1669, the Venetian garrison on Spinalonga managed to hold out until 1715, making it one of the last Venetian territories in the Eastern Mediterranean. Walking around the island's substantial ramparts today, visitors can still see the Venetian coat of arms carved above entranceways and the sophisticated angled bastions that once bristled with defensive cannons. The panoramic views back to the Cretan mainland are breathtaking, belying the island's turbulent history of sieges and blockades. But Spinalonga's story extends beyond its military chapter—from 1903 to 1957, the island gained notoriety as Greece's primary leper colony, a place of exile for those suffering from Hansen's disease. Abandoned houses from this era (many originally Venetian or Ottoman buildings repurposed for the colony) still stand roofless and silent, lending Spinalonga a poignant, evocative atmosphere. This unique layering of fortress history and the leper colony experience has made Spinalonga one of Greece's most compelling and emotionally stirring historic sites.
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Rethymno's Fortezza is an impressive star-shaped fortress that dominates the old town of this charming Cretan city, standing as an enduring legacy of Venetian rule on the island. Following a devastating pirate raid in 1571 that razed Rethymno, the Venetians resolved to construct an impregnable fortification to protect the city and its inhabitants. Construction began in 1573, with the foundation stone laid by Venetian Rector Alvise Lando, and was completed by 1580. The result was the Fortezza, a massive citadel enclosing the hill of Palékastro immediately adjacent to the sea. Its imposing ramparts, designed in the star fort style with bastions projecting at strategic angles, represented cutting-edge military architecture for the late 16th century. Though intended to shelter the entire town, Rethymno eventually expanded beyond its walls. Despite some design flaws noted in historical records, such as insufficient bastion height and the lack of a proper moat, the Fortezza served its purpose for decades until the Ottomans captured Rethymno in 1646 and subsequently used the fortress themselves. Today, as visitors walk through its gates, they discover a spacious, largely open area where most of the original structures have vanished, leaving only certain key remnants like the restored Sultan Ibrahim Mosque (originally the Venetian Cathedral of San Niccolò before its conversion by the Ottomans).
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In the heart of Rhodes' medieval Old Town—itself one of the best-preserved walled cities in the world—stands the Palace of the Grand Master, a castle-palace that appears to have stepped straight out of a Gothic fairy tale. Built in the 14th century by the Knights Hospitaller (Knights of St. John) on the site of a former Byzantine fort, this imposing structure served as the administrative headquarters and residence of the Grand Master of the Knights. With its robust towers, crenellated ramparts, and grand courtyard, the Palace represents an architectural rarity in Greece: one of the few examples of Gothic medieval style in the country. Approaching via the Street of the Knights and passing through the palace's entrance transports visitors into a European castle rather than a typical Greek monument. Inside, a spacious courtyard with checkerboard flooring and arcaded galleries welcomes visitors before they explore the interior museum with its elaborate mosaic floors (sourced from ancient sites on Kos), medieval furniture, and statues on display. The building visible today is largely a reconstruction—in the early 20th century, during the Italian occupation, the palace was extensively rebuilt after having been partially destroyed by an explosion in 1856. The Italians intended it as a holiday residence for King Victor Emmanuel III and later Mussolini, though the dictator never visited. Thankfully, their restoration preserved the palace's medieval character, and it now serves as the centerpiece of Rhodes' UNESCO-listed Old Town.
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Guarding the entrance to Corfu's harbor on a rocky peninsula stands the imposing Old Fortress, a mighty stronghold showcasing the ingenuity of Venetian military engineering. Corfu (Kérkyra) was a cherished Venetian possession from the 15th to 18th centuries, and the Venetians constructed this formidable fortress to defend the island's capital from Ottoman attacks. The Old Fortress, with its iconic twin peaks (the ancient acropolis of Corfu) and encircling sea moat, is the older of the two fortresses built to protect the city. Much of what exists today was constructed in the 1500s, incorporating elements of an earlier Byzantine fort. Surrounded by water on three sides and a contrafossa (moat) on the landward side, the fortress effectively sits on its own small peninsula, connected to Corfu Town by a short bridge. As you approach, you'll see impressive bastions and seawalls, once considered impregnable defenses. In 1716, the Old Fortress played a pivotal role in European history when outnumbered Corfiot and Venetian forces sheltered behind its walls and successfully repelled a massive Ottoman siege—a victory celebrated across the continent. Inside, the spacious grounds now function as a cultural park where visitors can climb to the eastern peak's old light tower (where the Venetian citadel once stood) for breathtaking 360° views of Corfu's UNESCO-listed Old Town, the Ionian Sea, and even Albania's mountains across the channel. Scattered throughout the grounds are remnants from various eras, including British barracks from the 19th century, underground gunpowder storerooms, and the striking Church of St. George built by the British in the style of an ancient Doric temple.
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Perched on a verdant hill between Mount Olympus and the azure Aegean Sea, Platamon Castle appears as a storybook fortress—a ring of medieval walls crowning a strategic ridge, with a singular tower rising dramatically against the sky. This impressive castle was built in the early 13th century (circa 1204-1222) by the crusader king Boniface of Montferrat, who established himself as ruler of Thessaloniki following the Fourth Crusade. Its primary purpose was to guard the vital Vale of Tempe—the narrow pass and critical trade route connecting northern and southern Greece—and to monitor for pirates and invaders approaching along the coast. Platamon's Frankish builders selected their site with brilliant strategic foresight: from this elevated position, sentries enjoyed panoramic views of the entire Thermaic Gulf, the coastal plains below, and the snow-capped peak of Mount Olympus looming majestically behind. The fortress follows the enceinte design: thick curtain walls forming an irregular polygon around the hilltop, reinforced by towers, and enclosing a spacious courtyard. Its most distinctive feature is the 16-meter-high round keep tower in the northeast corner, which remains remarkably intact and would have served as the last refuge for defenders. This architectural masterpiece has witnessed centuries of turbulent history, changing hands between Franks, Byzantines, Venetians, and Ottomans, each leaving their distinctive imprint on the structure while preserving its basic Frankish layout.
Unknown City, Unknown Country
Nafpaktos Castle stands as a remarkable tiered fortress cascading down a hillside to embrace the charming crescent-shaped port below. Unlike typical single-structure castles, this fortress features five distinct levels of defensive walls that zigzag from the hilltop citadel all the way to the harbor, creating an extraordinary multi-layered defensive system that proved highly effective through centuries of conflict. The castle owes much of its current form to the Venetians, who controlled Nafpaktos (which they called Lepanto) in the 15th century and heavily fortified it to guard the strategic entrance to the Gulf of Corinth. These very ramparts witnessed one of history's most famous naval engagements: the 1571 Battle of Lepanto, when a coalition of European powers defeated the Ottoman fleet in the gulf just outside Nafpaktos. While the battle occurred at sea, the castle was a coveted prize that changed hands multiple times between Venetians and Ottomans, with each ruler leaving their distinctive mark on the structure. Visitors today can drive or hike up to the main gate and wander through the fortress's fascinating multi-layered defenses. Inside, you'll discover ruins of barracks, powder magazines, and a small Ottoman mosque. The panoramic views are spectacular—from the top tier, the red-tiled roofs of Nafpaktos spread out below, while the modern Rio-Antirrio Bridge stretches impressively across the strait in the distance. At the seaward end, the castle walls form a picturesque medieval harbor where two rounded towers flank the port entrance, creating a scene worthy of a painting.
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Acrocorinth rises as a colossal fortress often described as "the most impressive in Greece," looming majestically over the ruins of ancient Corinth on a towering monolithic hill. This sprawling citadel commands unparalleled views of both the Corinthian Gulf to the west and the Saronic Gulf to the east from its imposing ramparts. Its strategic position ensured it was fortified and contested for more than 2,500 years. First fortified by the ancient Greeks by the 7th century BC, who crowned it with a temple of Aphrodite, Acrocorinth later saw successive enhancements by Byzantines, Franks, Venetians, and Ottomans. These multiple overlords created the intricate maze of walls and gates that still snake around the hill for nearly 3 kilometers. Visitors pass through three massive circuit walls, literally walking through distinct layers of history. Inside, explorers encounter remnants of a mosque, a Frankish tower, ancient cisterns, and ruins of the Greek temple-turned-church-turned-mosque, all scattered across the summit. The sheer scale of the fortress reflects Acrocorinth's crucial importance—it guarded the main crossroads of southern Greece and was considered the key to controlling the entire Peloponnese. Even during the Ottoman conquest, Acrocorinth proved notoriously difficult to capture, holding out stubbornly against invaders. Today, despite centuries of weathering and conflict, Acrocorinth's walls remain remarkably intact, and climbing along the battlements offers a vivid appreciation of why ancient writers described it as Greece's most secure acropolis.
Unknown City, Unknown Country
On the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese, guarding a tranquil bay, stands the impressive Methoni Castle—a vast coastal fortress that once served as one of Venice's most critical Mediterranean strongholds. Along with nearby Koroni, Methoni was known as one of the "Eyes of Venice," watching over vital trade routes to the East during the Middle Ages. The Venetians built this monumental castle in the early 13th century, developing it into one of the Mediterranean's largest fortresses, spanning approximately 93,000 square meters. Robust stone walls encircle a headland jutting into the sea, effectively transforming Methoni into a fortified peninsula. Visitors enter by crossing an ancient arched stone bridge (originally 14 arches, still largely intact) that once spanned a moat filled by the sea. The main gate, adorned with the winged Lion of St. Mark, leads into a sprawling enclosure containing ruined barracks, bastions, and a charming Ottoman-era fountain—physical reminders of the many powers that controlled Methoni through the centuries. The fortress's most iconic feature is the Bourtzi, a striking octagonal sea-fortress at the seaward tip of the complex. Connected to the main castle by a narrow causeway extending into the crashing surf, this isolated two-story tower was added by the Ottomans around 1500. It initially served as a final defensive position and later became a prison, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea. From the Bourtzi, visitors can gaze back at Methoni's massive walls and truly appreciate the castle's impressive scale and strategic setting.