Kales Castle of Lassithi: Kales Fortress is a hallmark of the town of Ierapetra. The Venetians built Kales Fortress on the northern sea wall of the port, to look out for enemy ships and protect the harbour from the Arab pirates. This castle is believed to have been built on the site of an old fortress and that the Venetians reinforced it.
The fortress of Kales is a remnant of its time, its massive yet simple structure was made of stone without many adornments or decorative work.
According to a local myth, a Genoese pirate called Pescatore originally built Kales Fortress in 1212, as a base for his pirate operations.
The earliest reference available is an official script by the Venetian Senate on April 13, 1307, where the construction of the fortress is mentioned. In 1626, Francesco Morosini strengthened the fortress. Another available record of the 16th |
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