A seaside Venetian castle of Thesprotia that has its own special history. Through the centuries it gave its own battles and protected the inhabitants of the area from enemy attacks. During the Venetian-Turkish wars and towards the end of the 17th century, the Venetians blew up the castle. At the end of the 18th century, after the dissolution of the Venetian Republic, the pasha of Ioannina took over the ex-Venetian spot and carried out some repairs. Today, its remains, in the small forest of Igoumenitsa are still there as a historical reminder.
Historical evidence about the castle of Igoumenitsa is meagre. It is estimated that it was built in the beginning of the 15th century, a time when it is referred to as a Venetian base, built on the site of a Roman fortress that had been erected to protect the unsafe seaside settlement of Ladohori.
The Castle of Igoumenitsa became a battlefield between Ottomans and Venetians. During the Venetian-Turkish wars and towards the end of the 17th century, the Venetians blew up the castle. After the dissolution of the Venetian Republic, the pasha of Ioannina took over this ex-Venetian spot and carried out some repairs.
The castle in its current form is comprised of a high, almost vertical fortified courtyard supported perimetrically by seven square towers. The towers communicate with the inside of the courtyard through arched openings. At the east side of the courtyard you can still discern remains of the gate, fortified by two rectangular towers, one at each side. The north-eastern edge was sealed by a cross-wall and functioned as an internal citadel.
Today, its remains, in the small forest of Igoumenitsa are still there as a historical reminder.
The Castle of Igoumenitsa became a battlefield between Ottomans and Venetians. During the Venetian-Turkish wars and towards the end of the 17th century, the Venetians blew up the castle. After the dissolution of the Venetian Republic, the pasha of Ioannina took over this ex-Venetian spot and carried out some repairs.
The castle in its current form is comprised of a high, almost vertical fortified courtyard supported perimetrically by seven square towers. The towers communicate with the inside of the courtyard through arched openings. At the east side of the courtyard you can still discern remains of the gate, fortified by two rectangular towers, one at each side. The north-eastern edge was sealed by a cross-wall and functioned as an internal citadel.
Today, its remains, in the small forest of Igoumenitsa are still there as a historical reminder.
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