History of Methoni Fortress

The fort of Methoni was a castle built by the ancient Greeks in
the fourth century B.C.E. It remained fortified through the Roman era,
and several Emperors favored the small town. It remained a good harbor
through the Byzantine times, but was conquered by the Venetians in 1145.
The Venetians built the fort outside of the castle walls, but the
Ottoman Turks captured the city in 1500. They built the octagonal tower
to seaward of the fort, and then lost the port to the Venetians in 1680.
They Venetians only had the city for 35 years before the port was taken
from them by the Turks. Under the Turks the city declined, and the fort
fell into disrepair. It was then used as a residence by several
important people before it became a tourist attraction today. The fort
is extremely cool, and I'm very glad that I got a chance to visit it.
Tomorrow we leave for Sicily, and I am enjoying this last day in Greece
to the fullest extent.
--Orion Date