Old Navarino Castle, Medieval fortress in Pylos-Nestor, Greece
Old Navarino Castle is a medieval fortress perched on a steep cliff overlooking the Gialova lagoon, featuring a trapezoidal shape with multiple defensive towers spread across its grounds. The structure displays the fortified design typical of medieval military architecture.
Nicholas II of Saint Omer built the fortress in the 13th century under the name Port de Jonc and used it as a stronghold in conflicts between Venetian and Ottoman forces. The castle played a key role in power struggles over control of this strategically important region.
The castle grounds contain the Church of the Transfiguration, which began as a mosque and was later converted into a Christian sanctuary. This transformation shows how different peoples shaped the site over the centuries.
Visitors reach the ruins by following a walking path that departs from the local village and leads uphill through natural terrain. The site is open to explore freely, but the climb requires good footwear and reasonable fitness.
The fortress worked alongside its sister stronghold New Navarino, and both structures fired cannons during the naval battle of 1827. This coordination between the two positions was crucial to the defense strategy in this famous conflict.
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