1. Agios Giorgis tou Vounou
Above the residential area, you will find the monastery of Agios Giorgis tou vounou. The monastery resembles a fortress as it is surrounded by a high wall which is encircled by a square-courtyard which includes a small church, a few cells and auxiliary rooms. To get there, you must climb 400 steps and hike about 10-15 minutes. The stunning view along the way will compensate you for your fatigue. The small church was built in 1759 on the spot of an early Christian basilica. Inside the monastery, descending ten steps you will find an interesting underground crypt dedicated to Saint Charalampos. In the crypt, there is also a spring from where cool water comes out.
Important tip: Before your visit, find out if the monastery is open to the public. If not, ask the priest for the keys.
2. Paleokastro
Paleokastro is built on the debris of the Doric acropolis and is the oldest monument of the island. It is located 2 kilometers away from the settlement and you can reach it in 2 ways. The easy way is to drive that way. The difficult one is shorter, but it involves walking 1 km up an uphill road. If you prefer the second one, do not forget to wear comfortable shoes and take a bottle of water with you. The only sure thing is that the view from up there will compensate you. In the area of the old fortress, there are small chapels and churches. The most important of these are the Virgin of the Castle and the church of Saint Stephen located at the foot of the castle. In addition, there are several well-preserved tanks built during the Turkish era.
Tip: Schedule your visit during sunset!
3. Cathedral of Saint Constantine and Helena
In Chorafia you will see the cathedral of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena, which are considered the patrons of the island. The temple was built in 1835 with its special bell tower. There is also the Santrapeia School next to it, which was built in 1903 in a beautiful neoclassical building, as well as the Parthenagogeio. The buildings are located in Avlonyrou Square, which is paved with a traditional mosaic, the so-called kohlaki in the local dialect. Opposite to them you will see the square of Panagia, with the churches of Panagia and Agios Spyridon, built in the early 19th century. You will also meet the statue of the Lady of Ro, Despina Achladioti. The half-finished church is of Saint George of Sandre, was built by the benefactors of Luke and Anastasia Sandrape. In 2020, after being abandoned for decades, work began on its completion.
4. Saint George
Across the port of Mandraki, there is the island of Saint George with the chapel of the homonymous saint and an incredible creek with turquoise waters. The perfect place to spend your day swimming and exploring the seabed with the help of a ventilator. There’s also a restaurant, just in case you’re hungry. To go there, you need to rent a boat-taxi from the port.
5. Saint George of the Well
The Church of St. George of the Well, built in the late 19th century. The church is located roughly in the middle of the eastern side of the harbor. The main square of the island is dedicated to the country of Australia, where many Castellorizians emigrated after World War II.