Explore the Castle of the Knights in Kritinia, Rhodos

High above the Greek village of Kritinia lies the remains of an impressive late medieval castle. Perched on cliffs and domining the sea, amidst a gentle landscape of fields and olive trees, this massive edifice occupies a strategic position on the maritime and land routes of western Rhodes, and was of the main fortresses protecting this part of the island. Today, it is a picturesque tourist destination, offering stunning views of the surrounding coastline.

The History of the castle : from the Knights to the Ottomans.

In the second half of the 15th century, after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Athens in 1458 and of Trebizond in 1460, Turkish power reached its climax. The Ottomans, with their fleet and army, established themselves as a deadly force for Latin possessions in the western Mediterranean. Venice, Genoa, and the Knights of Rhodes attempted to strengthen their possessions to counter the growing threat.

It is in this context that Giorgio Orsini had the castle of Kritinia built in 1472, to enhance the defense of the western coast of Rhodes and protect the nearby villagers from Ottoman attacks.

The threat was not an illusion, as the Turks did attack Rhodes in 1480, although they were ultimately repelled after a six-month siege of the town. After this episode, great engineers of the time, such as Basilio della Scola, worked in Rhodes between 1520 and 1522 to reinforce the fortifications of the island. He probably also strengthened the castle of Kritinia to cope with the new technological developments, mainly to withstand the power of cannons.

However, this effort proved to be in vain. After a second invasion under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottomans managed to seize the island in 1522. The Knights were allowed to leave and later resettled in Malta.

But the castle was not abandonned, as danger did not vanish completely under the Ottoman rule. Pirates continued to plague the Aegean Sea. Above all, the Venetians remained a significant power in the region, notably holding Crete until 1669. The safety of the local inhabitants, and more generally of this part of the coast, relied then on the castle, to the point that the current village of Kritinia was called “Kastellos”, from the Latin Castellum, meaning Castle.

In 1658, the famous Venetian admiral and doge Francesco Morosini (1619-1694) attempted to conquer Rhodes by landing an army on the beach of Kamiros Skala. However, this endeavor was not successful. The castle garrison, alerted in time by the neighboring island of Halki, repulsed him.

The castle was likely abandoned after the Ottoman control of the island became undisputed. It then fell in disrepair. Even though it was used again during the Italian occupation as a naval yard, its structure has partially collapsed, leaving it in the shape that we can see today.

Visiting the castle.

The visit of the castle itself should not take more than 45 minutes to one hour.

The fortresse encloses an area of 0.21 hectares. You will notice that its walls bear the coats of arms of four grand masters of the Knights Hospitaller. Inside, visitors can still see the ruins of a church and of the several towers.

How to get to the castle of Kritinia?

The castle is quite isolated and it is not easy to access without a motorized vehicle. To get there, you need to take the road overlooking the village of Kritinia that connects to Kamiros Skala. The road to the castle branches off to the left. It is signposted and you just need to follow the direction to eventually see the monumental silhouette of the building after a few minutes of driving. Once arrived, there is a well amenaged trail leading to the castle entrance. It is short but a bit steep. In the castle, it’s better to have good shoes as the ground is rocky.

Upon arrival, you will find a well-maintained trail leading to the castle entrance. Although it is short, it is a bit steep. Inside the castle, it is recommended to wear good shoes as the ground is rocky and potentially slippery.

Servicies and amenities at the castle of Kritinia.

The castle offers parking lots for visitors. There is also a café, open in turistic season, located at the foot of the castle near the parking area. It provides a nice place to take a break and also has a small shop. At the time of our visit, admission to the castle was free.

Around the castle of Kritinia.

There are other landmarks accessible from the Castle of Kritinia, including the ruins of an ancient Greek temple on the seashore below the castle hill. Although the sanctuary is very ruined, but some walls and a few column socles are still visible. However, due to the sea rejecting debris, the area can appear quite dirty.

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