Skip to content

Rio Castle

    The castle of Rio or Castello of Morea, along with its “twin”, Antirrio Castle, were for the Ottomans the "Small Dardanelles", in a location that the Romans called "Jaws of the Corinthian (gulf)". The castle of Rio was constructed within extremely short notice for the time, just three months in 1499 by the Sultan Bayazid II. In the location where it was built, the sanctuary of Poseidon existed in the antiquity; they used building materials from the latter for the construction of the Castle. The Castello of Morea (Rio) and the opposite Castello of Roumeli (Antirrio), filled each other’s power, and by crossing the fire of their cannons, prevented the passage of the enemy ships in the Corinthian Gulf

    The castle of Rion was claimed by the Venetians, the Turks, the Genoese, even the Knights of Malta. From 1686 until 1715, the castle was held by the Venetians who finalised its current form. During World War II it was used as a prison.  

    Timeline

    • 1499 AD: Bayezid 2nd builts the castle
    • 1532 AD: Andrea Doria attacks
    • 1533 AD: Ottomans
    • 1603 AD: The Maltese Knights destroy the castle
    • 1685-1715 AD: B’ Venetian rule
    • 1715-1821 AD: B’ Turkish rule
    • 1828 AD: General Maison takes over for the allies
    • 1831-1912 AD: Military prison
    • 1940-1944 AD: Used as a fort

    Virtual Tours

    en_USEnglish