Santorini Venetian Castle

Location: Akrotiri

The Venetian Castle of Akrotiri is located in Akrotiri village, at the southern side of Santorini.
In addition to its historic importance that makes it one of the most visited landmarks in Santorini, it is a wonderful viewpoint, from where you can admire the sea.

The 13th century castle was constructed during the Venetian occupation of the island as a defensive fortress in place of an old Byzantine watchtower. It was called La Ponta ("The Peak") and it was property of the Gozzadini family from Bologna for a few centuries.

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Around its main defensive tower, Goulas, and behind its walls, approximately 200 houses were constructed.
The castle is considered the island's most successful fortification system, as it offered protection during many years of war.
It managed to remain independent for several years during the Ottoman occupation period, although in 1617, it was eventually conquered by the Turks.
Nonetheless, it remained in an excellent condition until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1956.

These days, the castle is mostly in ruins, although some remnants of its old buildings are in a relatively good condition.
Very few parts of it have been restored, with the exception of Goulas tower.
After its restoration, it was used as an exhibition center for traditional musical instruments, until 2017, when the collection had to be transferred to another location.

Tours and activities related to Venetian Castle

• Atv Quad Experience

  Santorini

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  Discover the the beautiful and versatile landscape of Santorini with a guided ATV-Quad tour. Listen to locals share their love for the amazing cycladic islands as they you the most beautiful locations and views on this spectacular island.

  3.5 hours Map

  from € 181.00

  Book now
• Land Rover Safari With Winery Tour And Lunch

  Santorini

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  Join this off-road tour and learn everything about the island’s culture. Your day starts when you're picked up from one of the designated collection points, which will be either your hotel, a point near your hotel, or a point near Santorini cruise port. Your first stop will be the Profitis Ilias monastery. Situated 567 meters above sea level, Mount Profitis Ilias is the highest of all the mountains on Santorini, and will offer you a panoramic view to the whole of the island, where you can take some of the most amazing pictures. The tour continues to the Ventsanos Winery. Here for approximately one hour, you will discover the art of wine making, Santorini style. Enjoy a tour of the winery and a tasting experience. The winery's unique location provides the best panoramic view of the Caldera to enjoy the high quality of wines. Next, you will head to the village of Akrotiri to visit the Lighthouse. Here, you'll be able to admire the geological formation of Santorini. Continuing the route off the main tourist trail, you'll discover the hidden beauty of Santorini. The English-speaking drivers will be on hand to make this a memorable day. Passing through the red and black beach via some local villages, you will reach the most traditional village of Santorini Pyrgos, well known for its lovely paths and of course the Venetian Castle. In Pyrgos, the lunch stop takes place in a local tavern, giving you the opportunity to taste the authentic Greek cuisine and the local wines. To close the day, you will return to your hotel via an asphalt route, full of memories of the authentic Santorinian way of life, its islanders, their history, religion and agriculture.

  7 hours Map

  from € 125.00

  Book now

How to get there

The Venetian Castle is built on the highest spot of Akrotiri and is located in the center of the village.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: 0030 690 679 4316, 0030 22860 22555.

Car rental: There’s the option of renting a car with as little as 14.5 euro per day and pick it up directly from your hotel. You can then visit the Venetian Castle but also many other places of interest.

Public transfers: In Akrotiri village lies the ‘Akrotiri Santorini Central Square’ stop of the bus route Fira > Akrotiri. From there, it is about a 220-meter walk to reach the Venetian Castle. Fira is where the central bus station of the island is located. There are bus connections between this bus station and the most areas of the island. There are buses to Akrotiri approximately every 1.5 hours. Consider that time schedules might change according to the season. Check the official timetables here.
Tip: Since buses don’t always stop in every scheduled stop of their itinerary, our advice to visitors is to inform the driver about their final destination, so that he makes a stop there.