The Mytilini Castle

The Mytilini Castle is in the northeastern part of the modern city, on the tip of the ancient acropolis peninsula.  The Castle consists of three parts: The Upper Castle on the summit of the hill, the Middle Castle lying on northwestern slope and the Lower Castle on a lower altitude next to the north port. The original construction phase goes back to the Byzantine Justinian I era, while its present-day form is the result of drastic interventions mainly by the Genovese House of the Gateluso who prevailed on the island in the Late Byzantine years (1355-1462).

One secondary gate, the eastern part of the central wall and the cistern in the Middle Castle survive from the Byzantine period. In 1355 Lesvos was ceded as part of the dowry of Emperor Ioannes V Palaiologus’ sister for her wedding to Francisco Gateluso. The Gatelusi conducted repairs and additions, incorporating western fortification defenses into the existing castle. In 1462 the Ottomans seized the island and embarked on repairs and renovations of their own, repairing dilapidated parts, building two great round fortification towers with embrasures and new wall extensions. At the same time new buildings were erected inside the fortress such as a madrasah, a tekke, hammams, mosques, a prison, warehouses, fountains and the Lower Castle residential quarters. Following Lesvos’ liberation in 1912, the fortress was given exclusively to housing, while in 1922 in the wake of the Asia Minor Disaster refugee wave many building materials were ripped in order to house the numerous refugees. Since the 1960s the Antiquities Ephorates have conducted systematic excavations, maintenance, restoration, promotion and improvement of visitor access to the site. In 2018 the Lesvos Antiquities Ephorate completed the project to support and restore parts of the fortress’ northeastern perimeter. Upgrading the wider area of the Lower Castle is in progress.

Contact Information:

Address: Kioski, Mytilini, 81131, Lesvos

Tel: (+30) 22510 21365

E-mail: efales@culture.gr