Description of the attraction
One of the most famous and interesting sights of the Greek island of Kalymnos is undoubtedly the citadel of Chora (or Paleochora) - a medieval settlement nestled on top of a steep rocky hill, at an altitude of about 255 m above sea level. The settlement, which for centuries was the main administrative center of the island, is located in the southwestern part of Kalymnos and covers an area of about 3 hectares.
The Chora citadel was a typical medieval walled city with massive outer walls, one-story and two-story houses built close to each other, and beautiful temples. Excellent visibility and somewhat difficult access to the fortress provided the inhabitants of Kalymnos with timely and reliable protection in the event of an attack by pirates, constantly terrorizing the island, and other conquerors.
The original fortress was probably built in the 10-11th centuries, as evidenced by a number of architectural fragments. During the reign of the Knights Hospitallers on the island (1309-1522), the citadel was expanded and partially rebuilt. Most of the buildings that we can see today date from the late 15th century. By the beginning of the 18th century, the number of pirate raids had decreased significantly, and the inhabitants of the fortress began to slowly settle outside its walls, as well as to develop the coastal lands. Over time, the citadel was finally abandoned.
Today, the Chora citadel is an important historical and architectural monument and is very popular with tourists. And, despite the fact that most of the citadel actually lies in ruins, a walk through the streets of this medieval city will give you a lot of pleasure. Ten beautiful ancient temples that have survived the centuries and have survived well to this day deserve special attention.
