Located in the western part of Kastellorizo, Palaiokastro is the island’s oldest and most significant monument. It is an ancient fortress built on the site of a Doric Acropolis dating back to the 3rd century BC. It stands on the island’s second-highest hill (252 m) and remained in use until the period of Italian occupation.
The fortress includes various structures such as houses, churches, and cisterns. Of the churches, only two remain well preserved: the Church of Agios Stefanos, built in 1850, and the Church of Panagia (Virgin Mary). The Church of Panagia features a beautiful pebble-paved courtyard dating from 1858 and remarkable icons dating back to 1852.
The churches of Agios Nikolaos, Agia Lesa, and Panormitis were destroyed during World War II. All the houses are now in ruins and abandoned. Particularly notable are the large cisterns partially carved into the limestone rock. In addition to the cisterns, towers and sections of the Hellenistic defensive wall have also been preserved.
The Order of the Knights of St. John did not significantly expand the ancient fortifications. However, during World War II, the Italians used the fortress as a fortified military site, installing anti-aircraft guns and constructing air-raid shelters.
