Castle of Parikia, Medieval castle in Parikia, Greece

The Castle of Parikia stands on the hill of Agios Konstantinos above the port, built from reused blocks of ancient marble and stone. Its walls incorporate columns and architectural fragments from the sanctuaries that once occupied the site, and the remains of four small churches lie within the circuit.

The Castle of Parikia was built in 1260 by Duke Angelo Sanudo, who used stone from five ancient temples on the site, including a 6th-century temple of Athena. The medieval walls incorporate column drums and blocks from these sanctuaries. A landslide in 1771 brought down the northern and western sections, leaving the ruins seen today.

The castle's walls incorporate spolia from the ancient temples, including column drums and inscribed blocks that visitors can pick out among the masonry. The churches inside the enclosure, such as Agios Konstantinos and the Panagia, served the Orthodox community after the Venetian period, and their placement within a Frankish fort shows how the island's religious life continued inside the defensive shell.

The climb starts from the market street in central Parikia and follows stepped lanes up to the hill. The surface is uneven, with loose stones and ancient blocks underfoot, so wear shoes with good grip. The site has no railing along the outer walls.

The castle's walls incorporate columns and blocks from five ancient temples, including a 6th-century temple of Athena. A 1771 landslide brought down the north and west walls, and the fallen stones still lie where they fell, with temple fragments among them.