Castle Koupa #1117

Description

The Manikiatis stream flows down the hill, creating a narrow and strategically valuable passage, bordered by another steep rocky hill called Sarakinokastro, which also holds the ruins of a castle. To the east of Dragonara lies a fertile plain.

Dragonara is an elongated, rocky hill with scattered fortification ruins stretching over 650 meters in a straight line. The western section of the fortification is somewhat separate and stands 250 meters from the eastern wall of the main part of the castle. It is also slightly elevated, rising 75 meters above the eastern section. The eastern part of the fortification was built on the site of an ancient city and enclosed a medieval settlement, while the western part functioned as a strong military outpost.

This separation has led some researchers, such as the Swiss Archaeological School, to suggest that Dragonara might contain two distinct castles. However, most scholars, including Skouras (1975), regard it as a single castle with two sections: the eastern part and the western part. Following this view, Kastrologos records it as a single fortification with two interconnected segments.