Angelokastro, Byzantine castle in Paleokastritsa, Greece

Angelokastro is a Byzantine castle on a steep cliff rising 305 meters above the sea near Palaiokastritsa. Its walls enclose the central north slope and the eastern precipice, while the west and south sides are protected by sheer drops. The citadel at the highest point has a main gate flanked by a round tower, and three underground cisterns supplied water. A small church of Archangel Michael stands inside the citadel, and a chapel dedicated to St. Kyriaki is cut into a large rock nearby.

Written records first mention the castle in 1272 when Charles I of Anjou took control through his representative. Over the following centuries, it served as a critical defense point against repeated threats to the island.

The chapel of Archangel Michael stands at the highest point inside the citadel, on the site of an earlier three-aisled Early Christian church. East of it, a small chapel dedicated to St. Kyriaki was cut out of a huge boulder; its wall paintings are dated to the 18th century. Unresearched graves lie to the west.

The climb demands good footing because the paths are steep and can become slippery in wet weather. Bring plenty of water and wear shoes with good grip, especially on warmer days when the sun is intense.

The chapel of St Kyriaki in the eastern part of the castle was cut out of a single massive boulder; its wall paintings are dated to the 18th century. The graves west of the citadel have not yet been studied, so nothing is known about who was buried there.