Traveling in the Peloponnese in Greece is truly a unique experience. The Peloponnese is full of olive groves, idyllic sunsets, picturesque towns, and UNESCO Heritage Sites. But did you know about its many castles? This southern area used to be controlled by the Franks and the Venetians, who built castles for defense in every main port city and commercial hub in the area. Many of these impressive buildings still exist today. In this article, we will present the 7 most beautiful castles in the Peloponnese that you need to visit.
Castle of Acrocorinth
This is the largest castle in the Peloponnese and was made by Sisyphus, the king of Corinth from ancient times. It has changed hands many times in history, so there is disagreement on what time period it came from – Byzantine, Venetian, or Ottoman. For this reason, it also takes the name “All Seeing of the Peloponnese.” It protected ancient Corinth, one of the important cities of Greece in 400 BC, when it had 90,000 citizens.
Castle of Monemvasia
The Castle Town of Monemvasia is one of the most impressive and well-preserved places in Greece. It is found in the southeastern area of the Peloponnese on a sea rock, where a city was built in Medieval times. Back in those times, the city was built there because it was not visible to enemies on the mainland. The only way to visit at the time was by boat. The name of Monemvasia for this reason translates to “single passage.”
This is definitely one of the most beautiful castles in the world – it was built in 583 and became an important defense point during raids. It changed owners many times over the centuries and is one of the best places to visit during Easter.
Monemvasia is known as a popular place for couples. Some say that if you get married there, you will never divorce.
Bourtzi Castle
In the middle of Nafplion’s harbor, this famous castle was built by the Venetians to protect the town. It later turned into a prison and even at some point into a hotel. It can be admired both from the sea (in a boat) or from the hillside overlooking the town. The ticket to go from the Nafplion harbor is 5 euros and you can actually set foot on the fortress, which gives you an impressive view of the city.
Castle of Methoni
This castle is on the west coast of the Peloponnese and is one of the largest in the Mediterranean. The Venetians built it in the 13th century. 3 of its sides face the sea, and the north section faces the land. The most impressive part is the gate, which is beautifully decorated and features a lion of Saint Mark, which is the symbol of Venice. The castle is connected with the mainland by a stone arch bridge with 14 arches. Inside, there are also parts of the Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia.
Niokastro (Castle of Pylos)
Niokastro translates to “Newcastle” and was built by the Ottomans when they occupied the area. It is one of the most beautiful castles of Greece and also one of the best preserved, despite the many attacks from Venetians and Russians. The castle also houses the Archaeological Museum of Pylos, which overlooks the town of Pylos and the Bay of Navarino. The other castle in town is the “Paliokastro” (old castle), which was built by the Franks.
Palamidi Fortress
This incredible fortress is found in Nafplion. Palamides was a warrior in the Trojan War who was executed by Odysseus. His father was Nafplios, who sent his other sons to take revenge, as the myth tells. The fortress was finished in 1714 and is one of the most important castles in Greece, because it played a key role in the revolution against the Ottomans. You can climb to the top with 999 stairs and take in the panoramic view of Nafplion below as well as the Bourtzi Castle, Nafplion’s other fortress.
Getting to the Castles of the Peloponnese
To get to the castles of the Peloponnese, you will need to have a car, since some of the most beautiful villages listed above are in remote areas. You can find more information about renting a car in Greece here.
