Myrina Castle

The castle of Myrina occupies a rocky promontory that pushes out into the sea and splits the town into two beaches, Romeikos Gialos on one side and Tourkikos Gialos on the other. Founded in the Byzantine period on earlier fortifications and much rebuilt by the Venetians and later occupants, it covers a large area of the headland with walls, gates, towers and cisterns, most of it ruinous and open. A population of fallow deer, introduced decades ago, lives inside the walls and grazes freely, usually appearing toward evening. The climb from town takes twenty minutes on a stone path, and from the top the view runs over the town, the bay and, on clear days, across to Mount Athos on the horizon.

What you actually see

• The ruined walls - extensive Byzantine and Venetian fortifications.
• The fallow deer - a resident herd grazing inside the enceinte.
• The two beaches - the town's bays on either side of the headland.
• The Athos view - the holy mountain visible across the sea on clear days.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the climb; late afternoon is best for both the deer and the light. Summer midday is hot and the headland has no shade. Sunset from the walls is the local ritual.

Honest expectations

The site is unmanaged with no signage, no lighting and uneven ground with drops, so care is needed and it is not suitable after dark. The deer are wild and should not be fed or approached. The path up is steep and rough in places.

Nearby

Myrina town and its archaeological museum are below; the Gomati dunes and Poliochni lie across the island.