The Castle of Kythira is the island's most distinctive monument. It is built on a large elevated area in the town of Kythira, facing south. It is preserved in fairly good condition.
The name of the castle
The castle was called «Fortezza» (Fortress in Italian), like many other Venetian castles in Greece. It was also known as the «Eye of Crete» because of its strategic location, which allowed observation of shipping in three seas: the Ionian, Aegean, and Cretan.
History
The castle was built in the 13th century by the Venetians. The Venetians took Kythira after the fall of Constantinople in 1204, when the Latin Empire divided up the Greek territories.
The first Venetian lord was Marco Venier (1207). The power of the Venier family was consolidated in 1238, when Bartholomew Venier married the daughter of the Greek nobleman Eudaimonogiannis. In 1279, the island was captured by the knight Licario, who served Byzantium.
In 1308, the Venetians returned and regained control. In 1310, Andronikos II officially recognized their jurisdiction. From 1325 onwards, a military commander with the title of Castellan was appointed.
At the beginning of the 16th century, administration passed to Provliptis, under Crete. After 1669, administration fell under Corfu.
Despite the Provveditori, the Venier retained power, which appears to have been oppressive, causing uprisings. In 1530, the Senate of Venice stripped them of all their powers.
The island remained under Venetian rule until 1797, with the exception of the Ottoman occupation from 1715 to 1718. The French, Russians, and Turks followed, then the French again, and in 1809 it passed to the British.
The current form
The castle's current form is mainly a construction from 1503, when it was renovated by the Venetians. At that time, the largest part and the facade were built.
Structural, Architectural, Fortification Elements
Inside and around the castle there are many churches, many dating back to the 15th century.
The church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa, patron saint of the island, which was Catholic until 1806, dominates the town. Next to it is the Palace of the Provveditori, which now houses the Historical Archive of Kythira with documents dating back to 1560.
