"Templar of Tyre The Templar of Tyre (""French:"" Le Templier de Tyr) is the name of a medieval historian and also of the document he wrote in the 14th century, the third and largest section of the ""Gestes des Chiprois"". It was long believed that the document was written by a knight on the island of Cyprus, around the time that the island was the base of operations for the three major military orders, the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Order, and the Knights Hospitaller. However, the author of the document was probably an Arabic-speaking translator, a secretary and confidant of"
"Castle of Akrotiri The Castle of Akrotiri, also known as Castle Akrotiri, Goulas or La Ponta, is a former Venetian castle on the greek island of Santorini. The now-ruined castle lies at the center of the village of Akrotiri. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Republic of Venice, which had occupied Santorini in 1207. Eager to fortify the island, the Venetians constructed a number of fortresses and watchtowers at key points around the island. Near the small hillside village of Akrotiri, Venetians engineers constructed a new castle on top of an existing Byzantine watchtower; this castle"
"spectacular stage for the Savonlinna Opera Festival, held annually in the summer since 1912. Olavinlinna is the initial model for Kropow Castle in the comic book King Ottokar's Sceptre, an album in the series of Adventures of Tintin created by Hergé. Olavinlinna Olavinlinna (; literally ""Olaf's Castle"") is a 15th-century three-tower castle located in Savonlinna, Finland. It is the northernmost medieval stone fortress still standing. The castle is built on an island in the Kyrönsalmi strait that connects the lakes Haukivesi and Pihlajavesi. The fortress was founded by Erik Axelsson Tott in 1475 under the name Sankt Olofsborg in an"
"area. Edward Lear created a drawing of Angelokastro in one of his Views of the Ionian Islands. Angelokastro (Corfu) Angelokastro ( (Castle of Angelos or Castle of the Angel); ) is a Byzantine castle on the island of Corfu, Greece. It is located at the top of the highest peak of the island's shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain. It stands on a steep cliff above the sea and surveys the City of Corfu and the mountains of mainland Greece to the southeast and a wide area of Corfu toward the"
"the Clarisses. Aragonese Castle Aragonese Castle () is a medieval castle next to Ischia (one of the Phlegraean Islands), at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, Italy. The castle stands on a volcanic rocky islet that connects to the larger island of Ischia by a causeway (""""). The castle was built by Hiero I of Syracuse in 474 BC. At the same time, two towers were built to control enemy fleets' movements. The rock was then occupied by Parthenopeans (the ancient inhabitants of Naples). In 326 BC the fortress was captured by Romans, and then again by the"
"became one of the most defensible positions on the island. The fortress remained unconquered throughout the first of the Ottoman-Venetian Wars before finally surrendering to the Ottomans in 1617. The castle remained in relatively good condition until it was reduced to a ruin by an earthquake in 1956. Castle of Akrotiri The Castle of Akrotiri, also known as Castle Akrotiri, Goulas or La Ponta, is a former Venetian castle on the greek island of Santorini. The now-ruined castle lies at the center of the village of Akrotiri. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Republic of Venice,"
"Feraklos Castle Feraklos Castle (), also Feraklou (Φερακλού) and Faraklenon Castle (Φαρακλενόν Kάστρο), is a ruined medieval fortress, located on an 85 m-high hill overlooking the village of Charaki on the east coast of the island of Rhodes, Greece. The fortress was originally built in the Byzantine era. It was captured by the Knights Hospitaller on 20 September 1306, being their first possession on the island that would become their base. By 1408 it was in ruins, and was repaired under the Grand Masters Giovanni Battista Orsini (1467–76) and Pierre d'Aubusson (1476–1503) as a stronghold to protect the area, and"
"the two churches of St. Nicholas and of the Nativity—the cathedral of the local bishop—continued in use, while in recent years the churches of St. Marina and St. Basil, two cisterns, the Ottoman mosque, the gate complex, and parts of the walls have been restored. Skiathos Castle Skiathos Castle () or simply Kastro is a medieval fortified site on the northern tip of the island of Skiathos in Greece, which was the main settlement of the island from the mid-14th century to 1829. It is now abandoned and a protected site. The castle was founded in ca. 1360, as the"
"Gardiki Castle, Corfu Gardiki Castle () is a 13th-century Byzantine castle on the southwestern coast of Corfu and the only surviving medieval fortress on the southern part of the island. It was built by a ruler of the Despotate of Epirus, and was one of three castles which defended the island before the Venetian era (1401–1797). The three castles formed a defensive triangle, with Gardiki guarding the island's south, Kassiopi Castle the northeast and Angelokastro the northwest The castle dates from the thirteenth century and is located on a low hill near the village of Agios Matthaios which is situated"
"Ionian Islands, along with Angelokastro, Kassiopi Castle and the two Venetian Fortresses of Corfu City, the Citadel and the New Fort. Corfiote noble Andrea Marmora, the earliest historian of Corfu in medieval times, in his 1672 book ""Della Historia di Corfù"" mentions that the despots of Epirus adorned the city of Corfu with ""most noble buildings"" and built defences in other places on the island, including the fortresses of Gardiki and Angelokastro amongst other important sites. Gardiki Castle, Corfu Gardiki Castle () is a 13th-century Byzantine castle on the southwestern coast of Corfu and the only surviving medieval fortress on"
"Skiathos Castle Skiathos Castle () or simply Kastro is a medieval fortified site on the northern tip of the island of Skiathos in Greece, which was the main settlement of the island from the mid-14th century to 1829. It is now abandoned and a protected site. The castle was founded in ca. 1360, as the local inhabitants fled from the previous main settlement (on the same site as the modern town of Skiathos) due to the depredations of the Turkish pirates. As with the rest of the island, the castle remained in Byzantine hands until the Fall of Constantinople in"
"Castle of San Sebastián (Cádiz) The Castle of San Sebastián (Spanish: ""Castillo de San Sebastián"") is a fortress located in Cádiz, Spain, at the end of La Caleta beach on a small island separated from the main city. It was declared ""Bien de Interés Cultural"" in 1993. According to the classical tradition of the location of the fortress, there was a Temple of Kronos, a Titan of the Greek gods, the father of Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Demeter and Hera. In 1457, a chapel on the island was raised by a Venetian boat crew recovering from the plague. In 1706,"
"of Navarre at nearby Limassol, he allegedly declared it to be the ""wine of kings and the king of wines."" It has been produced in the region for millennia, and is thought to be the oldest continually-produced and named wine in the world, known for centuries as ""Commandaria"" after the Templars' Grand Commandery there. Kolossi Castle appears in many works of fiction, including ""La milicia de Dios"" by the Spanish writer Eduardo García-Ontiveros Cerdeño. It also appears in ""Snow Wasted"" by the Cypriot author Matthew Malekos and in the novels of several British writers, including ""Race of Scorpions: The House"
"kind in the Aegean. West of Akrotiri and on Santorini's westmost tip, there is a lighthouse dating from 1892. Much of the town is built around the ruins of a 13th-century fortress, the Castle of Akrotiri. Akrotiri, Santorini Akrotiri () is a village on the island of Santorini in Greece. It is located 15 kilometers south of the capital Fira, built on the slopes of a hill offering staggering views of the caldera cliffs. On top of this hill, there are remains of a Venetian castle (Goulas). Akrotiri is part of the Thira region and had 489 permanent inhabitants according"
"Assos Castle The Assos Castle () is a Venetian fortification on Cephalonia island in western Greece. Together with St George's Castle, the castle of Assos is a fine example of military architecture of the island of Cephalonia—British general Charles James Napier described it as 'stronger than Gibraltar'—and one of its main tourist attractions. It overlooks the bay of Agia Kyriaki, north of Paliki, and could act as a base from which to defend the island, to protect against pirates as well as a naval invasion. The castle stands on the top of a 170 m high rocky hill, which encompasses"
"Assos Castle The Assos Castle () is a Venetian fortification on Cephalonia island in western Greece. Together with St George's Castle, the castle of Assos is a fine example of military architecture of the island of Cephalonia—British general Charles James Napier described it as 'stronger than Gibraltar'—and one of its main tourist attractions. It overlooks the bay of Agia Kyriaki, north of Paliki, and could act as a base from which to defend the island, to protect against pirates as well as a naval invasion. The castle stands on the top of a 170 m high rocky hill, which encompasses"
"Aragonese Castle Aragonese Castle () is a medieval castle next to Ischia (one of the Phlegraean Islands), at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, Italy. The castle stands on a volcanic rocky islet that connects to the larger island of Ischia by a causeway (""""). The castle was built by Hiero I of Syracuse in 474 BC. At the same time, two towers were built to control enemy fleets' movements. The rock was then occupied by Parthenopeans (the ancient inhabitants of Naples). In 326 BC the fortress was captured by Romans, and then again by the Parthenopeans. In"
"Angelokastro (Corfu) Angelokastro ( (Castle of Angelos or Castle of the Angel); ) is a Byzantine castle on the island of Corfu, Greece. It is located at the top of the highest peak of the island's shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain. It stands on a steep cliff above the sea and surveys the City of Corfu and the mountains of mainland Greece to the southeast and a wide area of Corfu toward the northeast and northwest. Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Corfu. It was an"
"Rio Castle The Rio Castle ( or Καστέλι της Πάτρας) is located at the north tip of the Rio peninsula in Achaea, Greece, at the entrance of the Corinthian Gulf. The Rio-Antirio Bridge is located next to it, and the local ferry docks lie on either side. Today it is used for cultural purposes, especially concerts and is a tourist attraction. The castle was built by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II in 1499 above the ruins of an ancient temple of Poseidon, within three months. Along with its twin, the Antirio Castle, they were intended to protect the entrance to"
"the island before the Venetian era (1401–1797). The castles formed a defensive triangle, with Gardiki Castle guarding the island's south, Kassiopi Castle the northeast and Angelokastro the northwest. In peacetime it was also a centre of commerce and development. One of the reasons the castle was built was to defend Corfu against piracy and warn Corfu city of any approaching danger. The city of Corfu lies to the southeast of the Castle and it is visible from Angelokastro. The garrison at the fortress would signal to the city the approach of any enemy. During excavations in 1999 by the 8th"
"slavery. Today, the walls of the castle and ruins of many buildings and a Byzantine church remain. Outside the castle is the locality ""Patrini"" where the tomb of Theodora Tocco was located. Santameri Castle Santameri Castle () is a castle on the mountain Skollis near the boundary of Achaea and Elis in southwestern Greece. It was one of the strongest castles, controlling the Elean fields and the mountain passes to Tritaia. It was built in 1311 by the Frankish Nicholas of Saint-Omer, who gave his name to the castle. In Venetian records it was listed as ""Edrolcamo"" (Εντρόλκαμο). Saint-Omer was"
"King John's Castle (Limerick) King John's Castle () is a 13th-century castle located on King's Island in Limerick, Ireland, next to the River Shannon. Although the site dates back to 922 when the Vikings lived on the Island, the castle itself was built on the orders of King John in 1200. One of the best preserved Norman castles in Europe, the walls, towers and fortifications remain today and are visitor attractions. The remains of a Viking settlement were uncovered during archaeological excavations at the site in 1900. The Viking sea-king, Thormodr Helgason, built the first permanent Viking stronghold on Inis"
"Gozo Gozo, known locally as Għawdex () and in antiquity as Gaulos (, ; , ""Gaúlos""), is an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of Malta. After the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago. Compared to its southeastern neighbour, Gozo is more rural and known for its scenic hills, which are featured on its coat of arms. The island of Gozo has long been associated with Ogygia, the island home of the nymph Calypso in Homer's ""Odyssey"". In that story, Calypso, possessed of great supernatural powers, and"
"the celebration of the ""Diumenge de l'Àngel"". Bellver Castle Bellver Castle () is a Gothic-style castle on a hill 3 km to the west of the center of Palma on the Island of Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. It was built in the 14th century for King James II of Majorca, and is one of the few circular castles in Europe. First serving as the residence of the Kings of Majorca, and afterward long used as a military prison throughout the 18th to mid-20th century, it is now under civilian control, being one of the main tourist attractions of the island,"
"Castle of Sancti Petri The Castle of Sancti Petri (Castilian: ""Piedras Santas"") is a stronghold located in San Fernando, Province of Cádiz, Andalusia, southwestern Spain. Situated on the little island of Sancti Petri, the defensive fortification was once one of a series of forts that protected the inlet, Caño de Sancti Petri. Of irregular shape and in the Moorish style, it dates from the 13th century. During the 1st century, the Phoenicians settled on the island, founding a temple dedicated to Melqart, their god, . When the Romans arrived they dedicated the temple to Hercules. The castle's watchtower is the"
"north-facing Black Sea has a much shorter holiday season than the Aegean, the Mediterranean or even the Marmara, due to the cold winters. Şile Castle () is a 14th-century Genoese castle on an island in Şile. The castle was renovated in 2015, sparking criticism that the work had made it resemble the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants or an illustration from the video game ""Minecraft"". The tomb of a Muslim saint, Kum Baba, is on a tree-covered hill above Şile. Along the coast near Şile, in the village of Kızılcaköy, is a cave which, according to a local myth, is said"
"onwards by the Swedish Institute in Athens in collaboration with the Greek National Heritage Board. Kalaureia Kalaureia () or Calauria or Kalavria () is an island close to the coast of Troezen in the Peloponnesus of mainland Greece, part of the modern island-pair Poros. Strabo describes the coastwise journey along the Hermionic Gulf: On Calauria a Doric temple of Poseidon was built in the ancient sanctuary, possibly around 520 BCE. The dimensions of the temple are 27.4 by 14.4 m. There are six columns on each short side and twelve on each long side. There is strong evidence that the"
"Palace. Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, also known as the Kastello (, from , ""castle""), is a medieval castle in the city of Rhodes, on the island of Rhodes in Greece. It is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The site was previously a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller that functioned as a palace, headquarters, and fortress. According to recent study, in the exact spot in which the palace exists today, there was the foundations of the ancient temple of"
"first built in the beginning of the 14th century; the possession of the castle was key to holding the island. The Orsini family lost Lefkada in 1331, to the Angevins. In 1343, Walter of Brienne granted Lefkada and the Santa Maura castle to Venetian Graziano Giorgio. Between 1343 and 1348, Serbian ruler Stefan Dušan invaded Albania, Epirus and Thessaly, conquering all except for Vonitsa and Santa Maura. In 1362, Leonardo I Tocco seized Lefkada and Vonitsa. In 1479, the Ottomans conquered Lefkada, and rebuilt the castle on a large scale (the core of the castle being Ottoman). The Venetians briefly"
"Giardini Naxos Giardini Naxos () is a ""comune"" in the Metropolitan City of Messina on the island of Sicily in southern Italy. It is situated on the coast of the Ionian Sea on a bay which lies between Cape Taormina and Cape Schisò. Since the 1970s it has become a seaside-resort. Founded by Thucles the Chalcidian in 734 BC, Naxos was never a powerful city, but its temple of Apollo Archegetes, protecting deity of all the Greek colonies, gave it prominence in religious affairs. Leontini and Catania were both colonized from here. Hippocrates, tyrant of Gela, captured it in 494"
"Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, also known as the Kastello (, from , ""castle""), is a medieval castle in the city of Rhodes, on the island of Rhodes in Greece. It is one of the few examples of Gothic architecture in Greece. The site was previously a citadel of the Knights Hospitaller that functioned as a palace, headquarters, and fortress. According to recent study, in the exact spot in which the palace exists today, there was the foundations of the ancient temple of the"
"by the Parthenopeans. In 1441 Alfonso V of Aragon connected the rock to the island with a stone bridge instead of the prior wood bridge, and fortified the walls in order to defend the inhabitants against the raids of pirates. Around 1700, about 2000 families lived on the islet, including a Poor Clares convent, an abbey of Basilian monks (of the Greek Orthodox Church), the bishop and the seminar, and the prince, with a military garrison. There were also thirteen churches. In 1912, the castle was sold to a private owner. Today the castle is the most visited monument of"
"king of wines"". Near the end of the century he sold the island to the Knights Templar, who then sold it to Guy de Lusignan, but kept a large feudal estate at Kolossi, close to Limassol, to themselves. This estate was referred to as """"La Grande Commanderie"""". The word ""Commanderie"" referred to the military headquarters whilst ""Grande"" helped distinguish it from two smaller such command posts on the island, one close to Paphos (Phoenix) and another near Kyrenia (Templos). This area under the control of the Knights Templar (and subsequently the Knights Hospitaller) became known as ""Commandaria"". When the knights"