Angelokastro (Corfu)

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Angelokastro northwestern view

Angelokastro (Greek Αγγελόκαστρο " Castel Sant'Angelo " ) was one of the main defenses of the island of Corfu, which now belongs to Greece. Its strategic, hard ingestible position on the northwest tip of the island with good opportunities to influence the southern Adriatic Sea made ​​them very important for the fate and the development of the island for many centuries.

History

There are reliable indicators that the point at which what is now Angelokastro is, in the early Byzantine period ( 5th to 7th century) was provided with an attachment. There are two edited early Christian stone slabs were excavated than was started with the restoration of the plant in 1999. Although there is no dedicated instructions in the previously explored sources, it seems likely that the expansion of the plant in the 11th and 12th centuries was - especially as in 1071 Byzantium lost its territories in southern Italy and Corfu thus the border between the Byzantine Empire and his dangerous enemies in the West, the romanized Normans of Sicily, was that henceforth regularly attacked Corfu.

When the Crusaders in revenue in 1204 Konstantin Opel and thus broke the Byzantine Empire, the island of Corfu changed hands several times until it was conquered in 1267 by the Angevins of Naples. 1272 this finally also took Angelokastro to complete, as evidenced by an official report on the change in ownership - the oldest known written reference with respect to Angelokastro. According to the sources so far explored the castle in 1386 was taken over by the Venetians, and was at that time in good condition. The fort enjoyed during the Venetian occupation (1386-1797) of significant importance because it is one part of the local population offered a refuge against invaders like the Turks and the Genoese and others allowed the control of shipping in the Adriatic Sea, which is a main concern of the Republic was Venice. The Castellan or Governor of Angelokastro was appointed by the town of Corfu ( Kerkyra) advice on what an elevation to the peerage meant, if it was not available by default. The over the course of centuries changing techniques of warfare meant that some towns in the island were eventually abandoned because they no longer met the current requirements. In the 19th century also Angelokastro suffered this fate, so that it was completely deserted.

Construction of the fortress

The fort consists of an elaboration of the central north slope and the eastern escarpment. The west and south sides are protected by very steeply sloping terrain. At the highest point of the citadel lies with its main gate in the north, which was protected by a circular tower. Today's ruins opposite the main gate were the garrison quarters. The water supply was ensured by three underground cisterns. Also on the south side there was a small door system.

All main walls had battlements that still exist, however, only on the northwest corner. At the highest point in the citadel is the small church of the Archangel Michael stood ( Taxiarhis Mihael ), which was built on the site where previously was a probably early Christian church with three naves. The graves in the West are not yet explored, so that you can still make a statement on the origin. To the east is a small chapel, St. Kyriaki is dedicated and was knocked out of a huge boulder. The wall paintings preserved here are estimated to be the 18th century.