Castle of Chora, Cythera

About the museum

The castle of Kythira dominates like a majestic crown on the steep ridge above Chora, the main town of the island, at a height of 200 metres. Its strategic position, with unobstructed views to the south, allowed simultaneous control of the Ionian, the Aegean and the Cretan Sea, and earned it the title “Eye of Crete”. The Venetians built it after the Fourth Crusade, when Kythira passed under their rule. Its present form is due to extensive rebuilding in 1503, which included its façade.

Its inaccessible nature and strong artillery saved it many times from Turkish sieges; even Barbarossa, who violently plundered the island in 1537, was unable to take it. It remained in Venetian hands until the fall of the Most Serene Republic in 1797, after which it passed to the French, the Russo-Turks, the Ionian State, the British and the Germans and Italians, until the liberation of the island in 1944.

Wandering through the cobbled lanes of the castle, which covered an area of 16 stremmata and housed more than 200 residents, visitors can imagine life in this glorious little town. The two-storey houses are now in ruins, but the large Venetian cistern, the powder magazine, the seat of the Venetian provveditore and the governor’s office survive. The latter now houses the Historical Archive of Kythira, the second most important and most extensive archive in Greece after that of Corfu. Notable are the listed churches of Panagia Orfani and of the Pantokrator, with wall paintings of the 16th and 18th centuries, and especially the church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa, patron saint of the island, dating to 1580. It was a Catholic church until 1806 and was known as Panagia ton Latinon (Our Lady of the Latins).

Highlights

• Large Venetian cistern and powder magazine
• Seat of the governor with the Historical Archive of Kythira
• Church of Panagia Myrtidiotissa of 1580, patron saint of the island
• Church of the Pantokrator with wall paintings of the 16th and 18th centuries
• View over the Ionian, the Aegean and the Cretan Sea

Operated by

Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Πειραιώς και Νήσων

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The castle is about 1 km from the central square of Chora on Kythira.

Amenities & dining

The site has toilets.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit