Castle of Astypalea (Querini Castle) — Attraction in Municipality of Astypalaia

The Castle of Astypalea, or by its other name: Castle of Querini, is undoubtedly the hallmark of the small and beautiful island of Astypalea. It stands on a cliff above the picturesque capital of the island - (Chora) Astypalea. The beauty of the panoramic view around, with the deep blue colors of the Aegean Sea, together with the rocky cliffs of the island in the background, and the white houses of the town spread out at its foot, give it a magnificent beauty. The castle was built by the Venetian Querini family on the ruins of the ancient acropolis of the site, in the 15th century. The walls of the castle are relatively well preserved, however, most of the buildings within the walls were destroyed during the earthquake in 1956. The castle is decorated with 3 beautiful churches, shining in their white-blue colors. Two of them are inside the walls, the Virgin of the Castle, (1853) and Agios Georgios (1790) and the third one, the Holy Church of Panagia Portaitissa, is located on the south side of the complex, (at its foot), where you enter the castle. It is highly recommended to walk around the narrow streets below the castle, enjoy the beautiful houses, and the warm hospitality of the locals. (Just take into consideration the stairs and the slops) If you arrive here in mid-August, don't miss the biggest traditional festival of the island that is celebrated in the church, every 15 of August (the celebration of...

Most Greek isles have their "Kastro", but the castle of Astypalea beats them all. For one, many of them are hidden within the buildings or have low walls. The Querini Castle is an impressive height and is definitely a sight to see atop the highest point of Astypalea. By day, it simply can't be missed, while by night, lit up beautifully on the dark hill, it is almost magical. Also unique to it is the fact that it holds a full scale church inside it, which is cleverly built on archways just over the only narrow passageway into the castle. The space inside the Kastro is also large and still has a lot of buildings, some of which are fully intact. Of course, the views from up there are breathtaking, especially through the remaining windows facing all around the coast below. Definitely...

The Castle of Guerini is located in Hora. The castle was constructed on the traces of the ancient acropolis from the Venetian official of the Duchy of Naxos, Giovanni Guerini, in 1413. The architecture of the castle is one of the most impressive of the area of the Aegean as it has only one entrance on the southwest side. The surrounding defensive wall of the castle speads around the reinforced house walls, known as xokastra, and form a protective ring. However, the majority of the houses in the area of the castle have been collapsed owing to the massive earthquake of 1956. Inside the castle, one can visit the beautiful church of Panagia Kastriani, the church of Agios Georgios and the Tower of Saray. The castle of Guerini offers panoramic views of the surrounding...