Castles in Greek islands

Castles in Greek islands

Greece
Aegean Sea
Dodecanese
Astipalea island


Almost every single greek island in Aegean or Ionian Sea has an imposing castle perched on its highest point for security and better surveillance with the locals crowning the periphery with their homes to enjoy protection well away from the shore that was largely open and insecure to hostile attacks...The castle signified the stronghold of Venetian or Genovese occupation, following the decline of the Byzantine Empire, that remained
unchallenged till 16th-17th centuries falling eventually to Ottoman hands untill liberated by the Greek revolution in 1821 and the liberating wars of 1912-1913 that originated the present Greek state. After the end of the first world war,in 1919, when Turkey was defeated and occupied by the Allied Forces, the Dodecanese island complex passed to Italian hands and remained as that till 1948 when, eventually, returned to Greece thus being the last region recognized as greek territory.

In the photo the castle and Hora in Astipalea, one of the most beautiful islands in Dodecanese.