Castle of Palio Pyli

The castle of Palio Pyli is situated 3 kms SE of the village Pyli, on a hill 300 m. high. The settlement-castle town was built as a natural fortress, protected by the acropolis on top of a cliff at around 11 th century A.D. This castle was one of the most significant refuges for Kos inhabitants during the knights’ period. In 1449, the Master de Lastic orders the Koans to gather in the castle of Palio Pyli to protect themselves from a forthcoming Ottoman raid. During the raid of 1457, people were saved because the castle was unassailable. In 1526, the Christian inhabitants of the castle rebelled, killed all the Turks and remained the sole masters of the fortress. According to the historian Jacob Zarraftis, the last information regarding the Castle was that both the castle and the settlement were abandoned in 1813 or 1830 due to a pandemic. The castle is worth a visit because of the spectacular view.