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Palaiochora today

Greece · Ruin

Palaiochora

Paliachora is an abandoned medieval settlement and ruined summit castle on the island of Aegina, Greece. It was the island's principal inland habitation from the Middle Byzantine period until the early 19th century, and the peak retains low sections of castle wall, cisterns and numerous small churches among the house foundations.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1765

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1765

What Palaiochora looked like in its prime.

Perched on a rocky 355 m peak, the site is a scatter of low, beige-grey stone ruins running across the east, south and west slopes; the north slope is bare rock. The summit is a rounded rocky outcrop with short lengths of curtain wall surviving to about 1.8 metres, interspersed with collapsed foundations, small church volumes and three cistern openings. Terraced slopes with olive trees and cypress clusters step down toward modern houses and the road below.

Its story

The story of Palaiochora.

Paliachora was the main centre of habitation on Aegina from the Middle Byzantine period until the beginning of the 19th century, built on a peak above the monastery of Agios Nektarios. The north side of the hill was left uninhabited so the settlement could not be seen from the sea, and the castle crowned the summit at 355 metres; it has been nicknamed "the Mystras of Aigina".

After the Fourth Crusade in 1204 Aegina passed into the Venetian empire, and the island is later found under the Duchy of Athens; from 1394 it lay in the domain of the Caopena family.

The castle walls survive to a height of 1.8 metres, with remains of three cisterns. Of the packed small houses of the abandoned town, very few are preserved even as foundations, but 38 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches still stand, many keeping their internal wall paintings.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1765.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Palaiochora, including 2 interiors: cistern remains (interior), interior of a byzantine/post-byzantine church with wall paintings (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the road by Agios Nektarios (exterior)Castle summit and curtain wall remains (exterior)North entrance to the castle (exterior)East entrance and approach path (exterior)Cistern remains (interior)One of the two main roads through the settlement (exterior)Cluster of small houses and courtyards on the west slope (exterior)Church of St. George the Catholic, exterior (exterior)Interior of a Byzantine/post-Byzantine church with wall paintings (interior)

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Whose castle

Clans who held Palaiochora.

The families that held Palaiochora for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Caopena

    Aegina lay in the domain of the Caopena family from 1394.

From the archive

Palaiochora on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Παλαιοχώρα-Σελίνου., Palaiochora

Παλαιοχώρα-Σελίνου.

1932 · Hellenic Literary and Historical Archive - Cultural Foundation of the National Bank Of Greece (via Europeana)

CC BY

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Palaiochora.

Karaiskakis Stadium, GreeceStadiumKaraiskakis Stadium27 km awayEpidaurus, GreeceAncient siteEpidaurus32 km awayOdeon of Herodes Atticus, GreeceAncient siteOdeon of Herodes Atticus32 km away

Questions about Palaiochora

What is the history of Palaiochora?

Palaiochora was developed as an inland strongpoint after medieval pirate raids drove Aegina’s inhabitants away from the coast. A castle was begun on the summit in the middle of the 15th century, after Aegina returned to Venetian rule in 1451. The settlement was destroyed by Hayreddin Barbarossa in 1537, then resettled under Ottoman rule before being gradually abandoned at the beginning of the 19th century.

What is inside Palaiochora?

Inside Palaiochora, visitors can see the remains of three cisterns, collapsed house foundations and 38 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches. Many of the surviving churches retain internal wall paintings. The small houses were densely packed across the settlement, which was connected to the castle by two main roads.

Why was Palaiochora built, and what was it used for?

Palaiochora was built as a defensible inland settlement and summit castle, protecting Aegina’s inhabitants from repeated pirate attacks. Its position on a rocky peak made the south and west sides naturally difficult to approach, while the north side was left uninhabited so the settlement could not be seen from the sea. Two entrances connected the castle with the settlement.

Where is Palaiochora?

Palaiochora is on the island of Aegina, above the monastery of Agios Nektarios and beside the road from the city of Aigina towards Mesagros and the Temple of Aphaia. It lies in Aegina Municipality. The castle occupies the summit of the settlement’s 355-metre peak.

Was Palaiochora ever attacked or besieged?

Palaiochora was attacked and fell several times. Hayreddin Barbarossa besieged Aegina for four days in 1537 and demolished the houses of Paliachora. Later, Venetian forces led by Francisco Morozini besieged the settlement for eight days and withdrew with inhabitants, while Aegina changed between Venetian and Ottoman control before the settlement was abandoned.

Which family or clan held Palaiochora?

The Caopena family held Palaiochora from 1394, when Aegina lay in its domain. The island later returned to Venetian rule in 1451, before coming under Ottoman control in 1540 and changing hands again during the later conflicts described for the settlement.

What did Palaiochora look like in its prime?

In its prime, Palaiochora was a compact stone settlement spread across the east, south and west slopes of a rocky 355-metre peak. The summit castle had short curtain walls, three cistern openings and natural cliff defences on the south and west. Small houses, courtyards, churches and two main roads climbed towards the castle, while the north slope remained bare rock.

Is Palaiochora still standing or is it a ruin?

Palaiochora is a ruin, although substantial traces survive. Curtain-wall sections remain to about 1.8 metres high, together with three cisterns and numerous small churches. Very few of the settlement’s houses survive even as foundations, but 38 Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches still stand, many with internal wall paintings.

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