The Castle of Palaiochora

Palaiochora’s strategic location prompted the Venetians, under General Marino Gradenigo, to build a fortress here in 1282, which they named Castello Selino. The name likely references an earlier name for the area, perhaps inspired by the wild celery (“selino”) that once grew abundantly here.

According to Wikipedia, the fortress was destroyed in 1332 during a revolt against the Venetians, led by Vardas Kallergis and his men. It was rebuilt in 1334, only to be destroyed again in 1536 by the infamous pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa. The Venetians reconstructed the fortress once more in 1595.

In 1653, the Ottoman Turks captured the castle. They made modifications, established a settlement within its walls, but eventually abandoned it after repeated destruction from ongoing conflicts.

When British traveller Robert Pashley visited in 1834, he found only ruins.