Vyziki, Gortynia, Arcadia,Peloponnese
Castle of Acova
or Castle of the Monovyza or Matagrifon castle
| Location: |
| 3.5 km east of Vyziki village, Arcadia, Peloponnese |
| Region > Prefecture: |  |
| Peloponnese Arcadia | |
| Municipality > Town: | |
| City of Gortynia • Vyziki | |
| Altitude: | |
|
Elevation ≈ 720 m (Relative Height≈410 m) |
| Time of Construction | Origin | |
| around 1250 | FRANKISH  |
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| Castle Type | Condition | |
| Castle |
Not Good
|
An important castle once from which only a few ruins remain today. It is in Arcadia, east of the village Vyziki, on a hill.
History
The castle was built in 1250. Acova is mentioned for the first time in medieval history during the frankish occupation. It was one of the major regions of the Principality of Achaea. The Franks divided Peloponnese into twelve baronies, mostly centred around a newly constructed castle—a testament to the fact that the Franks were a military elite amidst a potentially hostile Greek population
Acova was one of the most important with 24 Fiefs. The first holder was Walter of Rosières of Burgundian origin
In 1318 the castle was sold to the Byzantne Andronikos Paleologos.
In 1458 was captured by the Ottomans of Mohamed II the Conqueror.
Between 1684 and 1715 it was under Venetian rule. Then the Ottomans returned and the once important city declined and was gradually abandoned.
| First entry in Kastrologos: | October 2012 |
Sources
- Website BYZIKION - ΑΚΟΒΑ ή ΑΚΩΒΑ (Greek only)
- Τάκης Χ. Κανδηλώρος, Ιστορία της Γορτυνίας, Εκδόσεις Δρόμων, Αθήνα 2010 (Greek book)
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| Access |
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| Approach to the monument: |
| - |
| Entrance: |
| Free but difficult access |
