After the Ottomans took Cyprus, the Venetians started to build defensive forts and castles all over Crete to protect it from falling as well. While they look strong enough to be forts there's a certain grace to some of them that ties them in to the style I attribute to the people that built them – but it's partly the style of the times I'm sure. This fort is in particularly good repair, built on a hill that gives it a view over the whole city as well as off shore. Building work began on it in 1573, it was taken by the Ottomans in 1646 and they stayed put and settled within the castle walls. There's all sorts of interesting stories pertaining to the fort and its construction – firstly it didn't have strong enough defences to be taken too seriously and it doesn't seem to have been built fir for the purpose of housing all the Cretans, it only had enough room for the Venetians. But you'll find all that out, and more, if you visit...

Written by  H.T. Hallum.

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