Pyrgos Kallistis Castle

"Pyrgos Castle on Santorini is one of the five Venetian castles found on the island. Their main purpose was to give shelter to the inhabitants during pirate attacks and invasions of hostile armies. At the top of the castle was the high tower of Goulas, which served as an observation point. However, it was later demolished and the St. Georgios Monastery was built in its place. According to experts, this castle is the youngest of all those located on the island, it is also quite well preserved. Another reason why it is worth visiting is the beautiful views of the entire island of Santorini and the Aegean Sea. Pyrgos is the highest situated settlement on Santorini. As a result, you can enjoy truly beautiful and impressive views from it. Precisely because of its height above sea level, this place was chosen as suitable for a defensive fortification. It is an excellent position for strategic reasons. The castle itself is a walled (partly destroyed) part of the old town – inside you will find houses, churches and other buildings. Visiting the castle is actually wandering through narrow streets among historic buildings. Pyrgos Castle was built as the last of this type of fortification in 1580. The settlement was built on a network of underground passages that could provide shelter for the inhabitants. The structure was built by the Venetians, who were essentially invaders on Santorini. They wanted to defend themselves against the Frankish occupation and needed adequate fortifications to do so. There was only one entrance to the castle, and above it, on a wooden structure, were placed vats with boiling oil, which could be poured on people trying to break into the castle. Legends also speak of a network of tunnels which could have provided an escape route from the besieged castle. Although the castle suffered damage in the 1956 earthquake, it is still quite well preserved."