Description of the attraction
The small picturesque village of Kritinia is one of the most beautiful places on the island of Rhodes. The village is located on a hillside, on the western coast of the island, approximately 51 km from the capital.
One of the main local attractions is the medieval castle of Kritinia with elements of Byzantine and Venetian architecture, also known as "Castello". It is located on a rock covered with pine trees 131 m above sea level. Like most fortifications on the island of Rhodes, this castle was built by the Knights of the Order of St. John (also known as the Knights Hospitallers, or Knights of Malta) in 1472 by the famous medieval architect and city planner Giorgio Orsini. The location for the construction of the fortress was chosen ideally, since from the top of the hill there was an excellent view of the sea and the enemy could not catch the locals by surprise. Unfortunately, little has survived to this day from the beautiful medieval castle, apart from the massive outer walls and the ruins of a small chapel inside the fortress. Today, above the entrance to the ancient castle, you can also see the surviving family coats of arms of the two Grand Masters who ruled Rhodes during that period.
From the top of Kritinia Castle, you can enjoy panoramic views of the west coast of Rhodes, the Aegean Sea and the surrounding islands. You can get to the foot of the ruins of the once majestic structure in a rented car, as the road is too narrow for sightseeing buses. Further, a hiking trail leads to the top of the castle. Every year this place is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world.
