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The most prominent structure on the harbor in Kos Town is the Castle of Neratzia, a huge Crusader castle built by the Knights of St. John. The castle was built between the late 1300s and early 1500s. The castle once occupied its own small island.

 

Admission

Access to the castle is via a bridge. Once across the bridge, you come to the admissions booth. It’s currently closed for renovations (as of October 2024).

Bridge to the Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Bridge to the castle
Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Castle of Neratzia

 

Walls

The castle is actually two castles in one. The inner castle is the oldest part of the castle, built in the late 1300s to defend the island against Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I. Only three of the original four towers remain from the old castle, as does the wall facing the sea.

Original castle walls
Looking into the Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Looking into the castle
On top of the outer walls of the Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
On top of the outer walls

Throughout the early 1500s, the castle was reinforced with outer walls, leaving a huge open space between the new and old walls.

Outer and inner walls of the Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Outer and inner walls
Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Castle of Neratzia

 

Building Materials

The castle was built using materials from ancient ruins in town and from the Asclepeion. If you pay close attention to the walls during your visit, it’s easy to spot some inscriptions in ancient Greek built into them. There are also tablets with the Coat of Arms of the Knights and an Ottoman prayer niche.

Ancient Greek tablets
Coat of arms on the Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Coat of arms
Coat of arms above a doorway
Ottoman prayer niche at the Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Ottoman prayer niche

 

Courtyards

Within the courtyards of the castle, there are several pieces of ancient columns and tombstones scattered about. You’ll also find Ottoman cannons and cannonballs.

Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Castle of Neratzia
Castle of Neratzia in Kos, Greece
Castle of Neratzia
Cannons
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Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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