{"id":2048,"date":"2010-11-13T21:05:38","date_gmt":"2010-11-13T19:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/klqewmpxo.cyon.link\/?page_id=2048"},"modified":"2024-10-31T19:10:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-31T17:10:45","slug":"naxos-apano-kastro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azalas.de\/en\/naxos-apano-kastro\/","title":{"rendered":"The Venetian fortress Apano Kastro"},"content":{"rendered":"

I<\/big>n addition to the Venetian castle in the Ch\u00f3ra of Naxos<\/a>, there is a second Venetian fortress on the island: the Ap\u00e1no K\u00e1stro near Tsikalari\u00f3. It is located on a steep hill between the valley of Potami\u00e1 and the fertile plateau of Traga\u00eda and can be reached via a beautiful hiking trail from the village of Tsikalari\u00f3.<\/p>\n

The history of Ap\u00e1no K\u00e1stro<\/h3>\n

D<\/big>ifferent accounts tell us about the history of Ap\u00e1no K\u00e1stro. Probably a building or fortress existed already in ancient times on the hill, but hardly any remains have survived. According to some sources, when the Venetian Marco Sanudo<\/a> conquered Naxos in 1207, he first settled on Ap\u00e1no K\u00e1stro (= “Upper Castle”, called “Castello d’Alto” by the Venetians – in contrast to the castle in the Ch\u00f3ra), which according to this version must have been in a habitable state at the time. According to other sources, the fortress was first built by his grandson Marco the Second towards the end of the 13th century firstly as a refuge because of the frequent pirate raids and also to intimidate the population, which tried to revolt against the oppression by the Venetian feudal lords, especially because they did not allow them to practice certain religious customs. Even if Marco II did not build the fortress, he certainly used it and maybe rebuilt or restored it.
\n\"landscape
\nAp\u00e1no K\u00e1stro is located in the gneiss landscape between Ap\u00e1no Potami\u00e1 and Tsikalari\u00f3.<\/small><\/p>\n

The castle complex<\/h3>\n

A<\/big>p\u00e1no K\u00e1stro consists of an outer, lower castle complex on the southern slope of the hill and the actual main castle on the hilltop. Both complexes had high defence walls, but only contained a few buildings, almost all of which are churches or chapels. Some of the castle’s churches are quite well preserved. Several cisterns and remains of the “palace” can also still be recognised. The outer sides of several buildings of the fortress, standing on steep slopes, have collapsed due to the rapid erosion of the bedrock.<\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe fortress is perched on the highest, steepest hill in the gneiss landscape.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"chapel
\nAt this chapel of St Panteleimonas, you turn off the path from Tsikalari\u00f3 to Ap\u00e1no Potami\u00e1 and climb more or less cross-country up the hill. There is a deep well in front of the chapel.<\/small><\/p>\n

The outer castle<\/h6>\n

On the southern slope of the fortress hill, below the main castle itself, is a larger fortified area with several churches. This outer castle was accessible from the east side; the former entrance is protected by a protruding, round fortification with embrasures, the barbican.<\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nBelow the main fortress at the top of the hill lie several Orthodox churches in the equally well-fortified outer castle. This is where the Greek inhabitants of the surrounding area took refuge in the event of pirate attacks. The churches were probably intended to ensure divine assistance in the defence of the fort.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe former entrance on the less steep eastern slope is protected by a multi-storey, projecting round tower with embrasures looking in all directions (barbican).<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nView through one of the embrasures of the barbican. It is said that cannons had been installed here that were used to fend off attackers.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe Kastro comprises a whole series of churches and chapels. This chapel dedicated to St George stands alone on the steep eastern slope. As a “military” saint (dragon slayer), Saint George was apparently invoked to assist in the defence of the castle.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nOnly parts of the upper enclosing wall have been preserved.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nOne of the reasons why the walls and buildings of the castle have collapsed and vanished so quickly is the rapid weathering of the bedrock. The speed of erosion can be recognised by the fact that the rock surfaces are often completely free of lichen.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThis building is a church, named Panag\u00eda Kastrian\u00ed, which used to contain important murals and icons. It was still visited by people from Traga\u00eda and Potami\u00e1 on the day of their church festival until the last century. Unfortunately, the south wall of the building has since collapsed.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nChiselled decorations have been preserved around the window.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nIn front of the building lies a mill stone.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nAll that remains of the wall of the inner courtyard is the arch.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe south side of this larger church building (Agios Joannis) has also been demolished. Note the ancient marble stones on the left entrance door.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"chapel
\nThis tiny chapel (Metam\u00f3rphosis) is located on the south side below the Kastro.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nAscending to the upper castle, one passes walls or the remains of buildings that give the impression that they are older than the Venetian structures.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nIn the far west, sheltered under a rock, there is a lookout point towards Ch\u00f3ra. From here and from a lookout post below the castle towards Potami\u00e1, guards were constantly on the lookout for approaching pirate ships.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe view is actually the best of all, here to the west over the valley of Potami\u00e1 with the Ch\u00f3ra in the background.<\/small><\/p>\n

The main castle<\/h6>\n

T<\/big>he main castle on the hilltop covers an area of around 120 by 50 metres with the ruins of several buildings. It was protected by thick, high enclosure walls, of which only small parts have survived. The particularly well-fortified entrance to the main castle was on the south side of the hill. The path climbs up steeply between two defence walls. According to tradition, the netrance was originally guarded by an iron gate. Near the entrance stand the ruins of a large church; this was the Catholic church of the Venetian feudal lords who lived in the castle or could retreat there in the event of pirate attacks. Further east lie the remains of the “palace”, i.e. the residential building of the Venetian lords. A small remnant of a building on the eastern edge of the hill is known as the “balcony”, as it offers a beautiful view over the Traga\u00eda. There are also at least three cisterns on the site.<\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nthe steep, well-fortified entrance to the upper fortress or the inner castle<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nHere, the walls are still quite well preserved in places. The masons who built the castle used a particularly hard mortar which, according to folk lore, was made using oil. The strength of this mortar can be seen from the fact that the upper part of the wall is still standing despite the large hole underneath.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe best-preserved building in the upper fortress is a large church.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nSome antique marbles were also used in this construction.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nHere and there you can find porous tuff-like stones in the walls (as on many Byzantine and Venetian buildings), which do not originate from Naxos, but were possibly imported from Santorini.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe church from the east. One of the cisterns of the fortress can be seen in the left foreground.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe cisterns are lined with a pinkish-coloured plaster containing many finely chipped shards of clay. In the centre is another ancient marble stone.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThese walls with the carefully hewn stone corner are the only remains of the “palace”, the residential building of the Venetian feudal lords.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nView from the upper fortress to the lower castle area with its churches.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nview from above onto the barbican<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nFrom the fortress you have a magnificent view over the nearby plains to the west, south and east. Here the view to the east of the Traga\u00eda.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nTo the north-west, a wall has been built on the steep slope, which has partially collapsed.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nThe wall also looks older than the Venetian buildings. The rocks covered in bright orange-yellow lichen are impressive.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nAs we descend from the Kastro, we pass the church of \u00c1gios Jo\u00e1nnis again. The entire south side of the building has collapsed; some of the material looks as if it has just fallen down. Until a few decades ago, the churches were still standing. It is very regrettable that nothing has been done to preserve them.<\/small><\/p>\n

N<\/big>ot far from the fortress to the south-east, between the gneiss hills, lies a unique cemetery from the Geometric period<\/a> with tumulus tombs whose outlines can still be recognised. It seems certain that this cemetery belonged to an ancient city on or near the fortress hill.<\/p>\n

\"Apano
\nTo the east of the K\u00e1stro hill lies a more level area with old terraces. From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the fortress.<\/small><\/p>\n

\"Geometric
\none of the stone circles of the remarkable 3,000-year-old cemetery<\/small><\/p>\n

continue: The Venetian towers<\/a><\/p>\n

back: Fortresses and towers<\/a><\/p>\n

see also:<\/p>\n