Neratzia, Medieval fortress at the harbor entrance in Kos, Greece.
Neratzia is a medieval castle at the harbor entrance of Kos, built on a small promontory that separates the port from the open sea. It has two concentric enclosures, one inside the other, each reinforced with round towers at the corners and thick stone walls facing the water.
The Knights Hospitaller started building the fortress in 1436, using Kos as a base in the eastern Mediterranean. Work continued until 1514, as the growing pressure from the Ottoman Empire pushed them to keep strengthening the walls over several decades.
Granite columns and carved stone fragments taken from ancient Greek buildings are built directly into the outer walls, visible to anyone who walks along the base of the fortification. These recycled pieces sit side by side with the rough medieval stonework, making the layering of time visible without any explanation needed.
The main entrance is reached along Phoinikon Street, a palm-lined avenue that runs from Hippocrates Square to a stone bridge leading into the fortress. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be cooler and easier for walking around the open areas.
The oldest tower inside the fortress carries coats of arms from several different Grand Masters of the Knights Hospitaller, each one marking a separate building phase. By following them in order, a visitor can read the construction history of the site directly from the stone.
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