GREECE PELOPONNESE ACHAIA RION FORTRESS

At Rion, where the Gulf of Patras has its narrowest width of 2 km, the Turks under Sultan Bayazid II erected a fortress in 1499, recognizing the strategic importance of the place. After its destruction by the Knights of Malta in 1603, it was rebuilt by the Venetians in 1713, receiving its present form. The fortress was siezed by the Turks in 1715, and in 1828, after a siege, the Turks surrendered to General Maison. The building was then handed over to the Greeks, who used it as a prison for a long time.

In the 1980s some restoration of the fortress was made. However, no excavations have been carried out inside the area although travellers of the 19th century reported remains of a temple of Poseidon inside the fortress.

Left: Old meets new - the fortress with the modern Rion-Antirion bridge behind.