Kythnos Oria Castle

Location: Oria

The Castle of Oria is located on the island’s northern part, around 8 km from Chora and 4 km from Loutra. It served as the capital of Kythnos from the 7th to the 16th century AD. During the Middle Ages, it was known as the Castle of Thermia (Thermia was the island’s name from the Roman period because of its thermal springs). It essentially succeeded Vryokastro, the capital in antiquity, since around the 6th to 7th century all the inhabitants abandoned it to move north.

For 580 years starting from 1337, the castle was the seat of the Italian feudal family Gozzadini, who ruled Kythnos as vassals of the Venetian Duchy of Naxos. During both the Venetian and Ottoman occupation, the island was often the victim of pirate raids.

The castle was destroyed in 1537 by the notorious Turkish pirate Barbarossa and his fleet. However, a testimony of Antonios Ioustinianis, the Bishop of Syros from 1694 to 1701, states that the castle was abandoned around 1570 when the Franks moved their residences to Chora, which they eventually made the capital of the island, as it remains until today.

Today, visitors can admire the ruins of the walls and houses and the only two churches that have survived.