About
The Frankish Castle of Parikia, also known as the Kastro or Venetian Castle, stands in the old town of Parikia, the main port and capital of the island of Paros in Greece. It is a medieval fortification, built in 1260 by the Venetian Duke Marco Sanudo, and it remains one of the most visible traces of the island's Frankish past.
What to look for
The castle is worth a close look at its walls. Builders of the time reused material from ancient temples, so you can see marble columns and other architectural pieces set into the masonry. Walking the walls and the lanes that lead up to the castle gives a clear sense of how older stone was gathered and given a new purpose.
What kind of visit it makes
- A short historical stop, well suited to a morning or late afternoon walk.
- A way to connect the island's ancient past with its later medieval history.
- A natural pairing with a stroll through the surrounding Parikia old town.
Because the castle sits within the old town, it is easy to combine with time in the streets around it, where whitewashed houses and small squares give the area its character. Parikia itself is the island's principal port, so visitors arriving by ferry will find the castle close to the waterfront and to the rest of the town.
If you enjoy places where ancient stone and medieval building meet, the Frankish Castle of Parikia offers a compact and rewarding visit.
