Palaio Pyli, Medieval castle ruins in Kos, Greece.
Palaio Pyli is a fortified castle on a hilltop at roughly 360 meters elevation with seven towers and multiple defensive structures. The site spreads across the ridge with visible stone walls and ruins that overlook the surrounding valley and Aegean Sea.
A monastery and castle were founded here around 1080 and grew into a major medieval settlement for the region. The site was abandoned around 1830 and gradually fell into ruins.
Three churches on the grounds served as spiritual centers for residents who lived in this hilltop settlement. These buildings reflect how faith shaped daily life in this isolated fortress community.
The walk to the castle follows a forest path of about three kilometers starting from the modern village of Pyli. A small cafe near the summit provides a place to rest during or after your visit.
The rectangular main entrance displays four semicircular arches from the 11th century, showing skilled craftsmanship from that era. An intact underground water cistern lies beneath the fortress walls, once storing water for those who lived here.
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