Kritinia Castle

Today I visited Kritinia Castle with some fellow classmates and a fellow named Kostas. The castle is located about halfway down the island and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there from Rhodes town. After going to the castle, we made the short trip up the mountains to the town of Kritinia, as well as the museum. It was here that I met a Greek friend by chance. Manoli, a host at one of the restaurants in Old Town had encouraged me to visit his village of Kritinia if I made it down to the castle. He told me that there would be free admission to the museum if I just mentioned his name to a heavyset man named Giannis. It just so happened that Manoli had come home to Kritinia to vote in the local elections and decided to relax at the bar when we ran into him. We all received a warm welcome and they showed us around the museum. After Kritinia, we went further into the mountains where Kostas too us to Mussolini's mansion. All in all, it was a eventful day.

The following is information about the castle:

Kritinia Castle

The Knights of St. John constructed the castle in 1472. It was originally constructed in three levels, each for a different Grand Master. It is approximately 131 meters above the nearby village. The site is in an excellent spot for observing the surrounding area, including the sea. It was a very strategic position for the Knights. The castle is in a very defensible position surrounded by steep cliffs and water on 3 sides. Today, the castle that remains is but a small portion of the original. Small ticket booths were recently installed in order to begin forcing visitors to pay for admission. The attempt to charge admission was met with hostility. The local people had been visiting the castle for years unhindered, and the the prospect of paying entrance fees for something that had once been free was not easily accepted. The attempt ultimately failed and the castle remains open for all who wish to enjoy it. The Medieval Rose Festival is held here in June.