Lassithi Kales Fortress

Location: Ierapetra

Temporarily closed

Kales Fortress, the only surviving fort in southern Crete to be located in an urban center, is the trademark of Ierapetra. It was built by the Venetians on the northern sea wall of the port, to look out for enemy ships and protect the harbor from Arab pirates.

According to some records, the castle was originally built in 1212 by a Genoese pirate called Enrico Pescatore, who sold it to the Venetians almost immediately afterward. It was a massive, yet simple rectangular structure made without any decorative works. During the tremendous earthquake of 1508, it suffered extensive damage but was strengthened in 1626 by Francesco Morosini.

After the Turks took over Kales Fortress in 1647, they repaired it and included it in the defensive network with which they aimed to suppress the Cretan revolts. Its current name, Kales, actually dates from the Ottoman period and constitutes an altered form of the Turkish word “koules,” which means “fortress.”

Today, the fortress has been restored and hosts cultural events organized by the municipality of Ierapetra.