Rio - Antirio Castle

   The Rio Castle (Greek Castle Rio Kastelli Patras) is located on the northern edge of the Rio port in Achaia of Greece, at the entrance of the Corinthian Gulf. Today it is used for cultural purposes, special concerts and is a major tourist attraction in the region. The castle was built by the Ottoman Sultan Bayazid II in 1499 on the ruins of the ancient temple of Poseidon, within three months. Together with its twin, the castle of Antirrio, aimed to protect the entrance to the Gulf of Corinth, and were nicknamed "Little Dardanelles". The castle is located on the sea, the north side is protected from the sea and the southern part of a wide trench, filled with seawater and two outer bastions (ravelins), connected to the main fortress of stone bridges. It has two gates, the central, and sea gate. In 1533, soon conquered by the Genoese in the Andrea Doria, but the Ottomans recaptured later in the same year. In 1687, the castle was occupied by the Venetians under Francesco Morosini. The Venetians rebuilt the castle apokathistontas damage and enischyontas with the addition of towers, giving the final form. The Venetians also added the small chapel of Zoodochos Pigi. The Ottomans retook it in 1715 until the surrender to the French General Nicolas Joseph Maison. Between 1831 and 1912, the castle was used as military purposes and then as a prison for people whose prisoners were often used by the Municipality of Patras for cleaning the streets of Rio.