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Mitilini pictures
Mitilini, O Kastro
Mitilini CastroKastro Photos
   Welcome to part two of my pictures from Mitilini. For more information about the town, please see Part One. This part focuses on the "Venetian" Castle. I say "Venetian" because fortifications on this hill have existed since before the time of the Venitians. However, an exact date and builder of the castle is hard to assign because of the various people/invaders whom have rebuilt it.
    Ruins on the site have been found that date back to the time of Justinian and remains of the Ancient Greek Acropolis have been found. The general pattern of development for Mitilini as other islands was having the current residents build a castle, have parts destroyed by an invader then the invaders, the new current resident, rebuilding and enlarging the castle. As a result it is one of the largest castles in the Aegean.
   Time and cannon balls have taken their toll on the castle, many of the internal buildings and the outer wall have suffered damage. The Greeks appear to be repairing the castle though. The castle overlooks the modern and the ancient harbors of Mitilini and is in a very strategic location where it can defend the town. There are underground passages in the castle and there is a rumor some go into the town for escape, much like the castle on Cepoholonia   Note:One of my source books keeps calling it a Venetian castle however at the end Mentions one of the major phases was by the Genoese. Therefore, it may be a Genoese Castle and not Venetian

I hope you enjoy the photos. Any comments, please E-mail me, .

Click on the title or thumbnail to view the larger picture.
Part II, The Castle

Ruined Wall

A Cannonball Hole
Turkey in the Background

Castle Buildings

Road into Town

Arcade in old Church?

Door to Queen's Tower

Mitilini: The Harbor The Back Streets
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All photos by John L. Polos
Copyright August 23, 2001