Archive for 'Castles & Palaces in Greece'

If you are looking to take in a fascinating medieval monument as well as some incredible panoramic views over the coast, go for a short but very gratifying hike, and then spend some time on a truly stunning beach and you have found a vacation rental in Peloponnese, then you need to head to the lovely coastal town of Pylos. This is where you will find the ruins of a 13th century fortress perched on a cliff called Old Navarino Castle and the utterly beautiful natural surroundings that you can admire as they unfold below when you reach the ancient building.

Navarino Castle was built in the strategic location in which it stands today in the 13th century by the Franks. It was positioned for observation and defence and endured centuries of attacks and sieges before being taken by the Venetians in the 15th century and then passing back and forth from Venetian and Ottoman control. Once Pylos Castle was built nearby, Navarino lost its significance and, over time, fell to ruin. It is known by locals as “Paleokastro”, “the old fortress,” and is a romantic ruin.

If you have found a vacation rental in Crete, one of the most important and famous historical attractions that you must find time for while exploring this beautiful island is the Palace of Knossos, built on Kephala Hill. Once the grand capital of Minoan Crete, the site is an evocative and extraordinary space that recreates an incredible empire long gone. The earliest traces of human inhabitation of this site date back to the Neolithic period, around 7000 to 3000BC and there were then several palaces built on the site from 1900BC onwards. The last of which fell into ruin in 1350BC. The site was finally occupied once more from the Late Mycenaean period until Roman times. It has been connected to famous Greek legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth and the story of Daidalos and Ikaros and is, today, one of the most famous tourist attractions in all of Greece.

Frangokastello is the name of a village, beach and castle on the Greek Island of Crete: basically, a package deal of a day trip with so much in one spot for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Crete!

Located in a small valley south of the White Mountains, 80km south-east of Chania, this little bay is gorgeous. The beach is extensive and sheltered made up of a gently shelving sandy beach beach of soft white sand and shallow turquoise waters. An ideal spot for kids and families to play around on, it is popular and busy in July and August, as one might imagine, but is still worth a visit. Other beaches are located nearby so, if it is too busy for you, you can head to the long pebble beach of Vatalos for snorkelling or the magnificent Orthi Ammos with its large sand dunes.

A post shared by Ievgeniia Schastlyva (@janepopcorn) on Sep 24, 2016 at 12:05pm PDT

Those who are looking for a villa in Greece or a vacation rental in Peloponnese, in particular, might be seeking out things to see and do in the area. If you're one of those people and if you're fond of bizarre and unusual things, then you might want to seek out the amazing Castle of Agrilis.

Located on the Western coast of Greece, this tacky and striking colourful gem was built in the 1960s by an American-born doctor of Greek descent, Harry Fournier. After making his money as a surgeon in Chicago, he retired to his family's homeland and later decided that he wanted to leave his mark on the city from which his kin came.