Querini Castle

 

Way up at the very tippy top of the Chora, even higher than the red door house, is Querini Castle. Just keep following the maze of stairs and cobblestone alleys until you meet the battlement walls. As you can see, this Venetian castle is a ruin, but who can resist poking around in a ruin. 

The best times to visit are sunrise and sunset, but there are lots of people at sunset, so we opt for sunrise with the promise of a fantastic breakfast at Pylaia Hotel.

Construction started on the castle in 1207, and it was held by the Italians for the next 300 years. Various groups controlled the fortress over the centuries,  including Italians, pirates and Turks. It is a natural lookout point, because you can easily see 30 miles away with the naked eye. Locals held a defensive position as marauding pirates attacked them from below. 

Note that the domes of three Greek Orthadox churches are located inside the castle walls.

Enough of this ruin! On to breakfast at Pylaia.

More soon.