Description of the attraction
Argos is considered the most ancient city in Europe, its history goes back more than 5000 years. One of the oldest in the world is the Argos fortress, located just 5 km from the center of the city of Argos. It is sometimes called the Larissa fortress after the same name of the hill on which it is located. The hill itself got its name in honor of the daughter of Pelasgus, the founder of Argos. The Larissa Fortress is located at an altitude of 298 meters above sea level. The fortress offers a gorgeous view of the city and the Aegean Sea.
The very first fortress of Argos was founded in the 6th century BC. In the Middle Ages, a castle was built in the central part of the hill on ancient ruins. Convenient location, proximity to the sea and a beautiful fertile valley stretching at the foot of the hill have always attracted conquerors. Throughout its history, the fortress has repeatedly changed its owners, each of whom renovated it and completed the construction. At different times the fortress was inhabited by Greeks, Byzantines, Crusaders, Venetians and Turks.
During the Byzantine period, the fortress was of great strategic importance. From the 13th century, the crusaders ruled here. In 1388, this territory came under the control of the Venetians until 1463, when the Turks seized power. Except for a short period of time from 1686 to 1715, when the fortress was under the control of the Venetian admiral Morosini, the Turks owned the fortress until 1822.
The fortress consists of an inner castle with its fortifications and an outer fortress with massive walls. These are mainly medieval fortifications with towers of various shapes, although some fragments of the walls belong to the antique period. Also on the territory of the fortress you can see the underground passages, which are now closed with bars. During archaeological excavations at the beginning of the 20th century, the Byzantine Church of the Virgin Mary, built by Bishop Nikita of Argos in the middle of the 12th century, was also discovered here. The centuries-old history and numerous owners have turned the fortress into an interesting structure, in which many eras and cultures are closely intertwined.
Today the ruins of the fortress are not guarded and are free to visit. You can climb the top of the hill either on foot or by car.
