Apano Kastro of Naxos

Apano Kastro, also known as Castello de Alto, was the most important fortress of Naxos during the Venetian period. It stands at about 420 meters above sea level, on a steep hill between Potamia and Tragaia, offering a panoramic view over a large part of the island. From this vantage point, guards could spot pirate ships early and alert the nearby villages.

The castle’s location was highly strategic, overlooking the fertile plains of Tragaia and Sagri. Access is only possible via a rough footpath that starts from Potamia. The hill is also known locally as “Sklaves” or “Koutsocherados,” names that probably come from pirate raids and the capture of locals.

The first fortifications were built in the 4th century BC, and during Byzantine times the site was strengthened against Saracen pirates. The castle took its present form mainly in the late 14th century, after 1390, under Venetian rule, when the Aegean began to face Ottoman naval threats. Around 1500, new defenses were added, including two circular bastions with cannon openings — an innovation for that period.

Apano Kastro withstood many sieges. In 1537, the pirate admiral Barbarossa failed to capture it, and only the French corsair Hugues de Crevelliers managed to take it temporarily in 1678.

Today, visitors can still see parts of the two defensive walls, towers, cisterns, small chapels, and the ruins of a basilica and what is locally called the “Queen’s Palace.” The fortress mainly served as a military stronghold and refuge, not as a permanent settlement, although small communities such as Goulas and Bourgos later developed on its slopes.