Larissa Fortress, Medieval fortress on Larissa Hill in Argos, Greece.
Larissa Fortress occupies a high rocky hilltop in Argos with defensive walls, towers, and fortification remains spanning multiple construction periods. The slopes and summit contain scattered stone structures built layer upon layer by successive occupants across different eras.
The site functioned as a strategic defense position from the 6th century BC and later came under Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman control. Greek independence in 1822 marked the end of foreign dominion over the hilltop fortress.
The fortress reveals how different civilizations built upon the same hilltop across thousands of years, leaving their marks in visible layers. Walking through the site, you can see mycenaean foundations supporting later medieval walls, showing how each culture adapted what came before.
You can reach the fortress via a paved road from Argos, with free admission during opening hours and parking available near the entrance. The climb to the summit is manageable for most visitors, though quite steep in places.
Within the fortress stand ruins of a church built in 1174 and large water cisterns that once supplied the garrison during extended sieges. These storage tanks reveal how critical it was to prepare for water shortages when enemies surrounded the hilltop.
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