Strolling Through Beautiful Castles Greece

Agios Nikolaos Fortress is located in West Crete and home to the Byzantine church of Saint Nicholas at Kiriakoselia. It was built in the 1400s to protect the port of Mandraki. The fortress dates back to the Venetian period in the 16th century. It includes an impressive lighthouse built in 1863 by the French Ottoman Lighthouse Society. At this location you can have amazing views of the ocean and see three windmills and a bronze deer statue.

Bourtz Castle is a Venetian castle in Nafplio sitting on an island. The castle was built in the late 1400s. It has been used as a prison, home to executioners, government housing, a hotel, and a restaurant.

Castle of Astypalaia sits on a hilltop in Chora, Astypalaia, Greece. It is a 14th-century castle with whitewashed domes. Built by the Venetians, the castle served as a defensive structure against pirates and invaders. It features a blend of Byzantine and Venetian architectural styles. A tower called “Saray” still stands tall at the southern end of the castle, and two churches with whitewashed walls continue to stand out amidst the gray stone walls.

Castle of Ioannina is the fortified old town of the city of Ioannina in northwestern Greece.It was built in 528 by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The castle features a mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architectural styles. Inside you’ll find the Aslan Paha Mosque and the Byzantine Museum. It offers panoramic views of Lake Pamvotis and the surrounding area.

Castle of Molyvos sits on a hilltop and was built in 1373. It is the second-largest fortress on Lesvos by the Eastern Aegean Sea. The castle has a polygonal design and ten towers that once were used as lookouts. The castle features a mix of Byzantine and Ottoman architectural styles. The Castle of Molyvos stands as a great historical monument for the whole island and as one of the most well-preserved castles in the Eastern Mediterranean.In summer, this site hosts many festivals and cultural events, such as musical concerts, lectures, and theater performances.

Castle of Skyros sits on the highest point of Skyros. It is a 10th-century medieval castle. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Aegean Sea from the castle grounds. Over the main entrance, you will see a marble lion built in the wall.Inside the Castle, there is a great church, the glorious Monastery of Agios Georgios (Saint George), which is a dependency of the Monastery of Megisti Lavra, Mount Athos.

Castello a Mare (pictured above) is located near the old harbor of Chania; it offers scenic views of the sea and surrounding area. It was built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century.The fort has two stories, with a total of 26 rooms, which were originally used as barracks, a prison, storage rooms, a water reservoir, a church, a mill, and a bakery. A lighthouse tower is located on the northern part of the fort.

Chlemoutsi Castle is located on the Peloponnese Peninsula on Elis. It was built in the year 1220. The castle has large fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, a central courtyard, a chapel, and a fortified wall in a hexagonal pattern. It offers impressive views of the Ionian Sea. There is also an exhibition on-site with more than 500 objects obtained from around the world by Crusaders. The castle features a mix of Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles. Chlemoutsi remains “one of the most important and best-preserved castles in Greece.”

Eptapyrgio Castle is located in Thessaloniki, and its name means the Fortress of Seven Towers. It is a Byzantine structure built in 330 AD. The Ottomans first used it as a military installation but later turned it into a prison—one tied to torture and some of the most brutal executions in history. Though beautiful, many believe that the location is haunted by the souls of prisoners.

Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights sits on the lovely Greek island of Rhodes. It was built in the 14th century by the Saint John Knights. There are 160 rooms with sculptures, Oriental vases, marble, and furnishings from the 14th and 17th centuries. It served as the residence of the Grand Master and a military stronghold.The palace is a combination of the Gothic and Byzantine architectural styles with thick stone walls, towers, and a large courtyard. Inside is a museum displaying artifacts from the Knight era and ancient Rhodes. It is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Medieval City of Rhodes.