Corfu's Castle of the Angel

Angelokastro Castle is a ruined Byzantine fortress located on the northwestern coast of Corfu. The castle sits on the top of a very high, sheer rock formation, about 305 meters above the sea. This position is near the village of Paleokastritsa and offers a wide view over the Ionian Sea and the surrounding land. Its name means "Castle of the Angel." The fortress is one of the most important old fortified sites on Corfu. It was likely built in the 13th century, though the site may have been used for defense even earlier. Due to its naturally strong location on the steep cliff, the castle was very hard to attack. It played a major role in the defense of the island for centuries, especially against pirates and the Ottoman Turks. It was one of three castles that formed a defensive triangle to protect Corfu. During a period of Venetian rule, from 1387 to the late 16th century, Angelokastro served as the island's capital and the seat of the Venetian governor. Today, only parts of the walls, a circular tower, and the ruins of a few small churches remain. Among these are a small church carved into the rock and a church at the highest point, built on the site of an earlier one. #mediterranean